Method for identifying substances which positively influence inflammatory conditions of chronic inflammatory airway diseases

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to substances which modulate receptors involved in inflammatory processes and whose modulated functions positively influence inflammatory diseases.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/944,807, filed Aug. 31, 2001, which claims, as does the present application, priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/233,748, filed Sep. 19, 2000, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention belongs to the field of modulation of inflammatory processes, in particular of inflammatory airway diseases, in which macrophages play an important role. The inflammatory processes can be modulated according to the invention by influencing the function of receptors on macrophages, which receptors are identified to be involved in the inflammatory process.

[0003] Inflammatory processes involve a cascade of reactions. A wide variety of factors are involved in inflammatory processes leaving a single treatment to avoid said factors unsuccessful. This is in particular true for inflammatory processes of the airways, like the chronic inflammatory airway diseases.

[0004] Chronic inflammatory airway diseases include Chronic Bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For example, COPD is a complex disease encompassing symptoms of several disorders: chronic bronchitis which is characterized by cough and mucus hypersecretion, small airway disease, including inflammation and peribronchial fibrosis, and emphysema. COPD is characterized by an accelerated and irreversible decline of lung function. The major risk factor for developing COPD is continuous cigarette smoking. Since only about 20% of all smokers are inflicted with COPD, a genetic predisposition is also likely to contribute to the disease.

[0005] The initial events in the early onset of COPD are inflammatory, affecting small and large airways. An irritation caused by cigarette smoking attracts macrophages and neutrophils the number of which is increased in the sputum of smokers. Perpetual smoking leads to an ongoing inflammatory response in the lung by releasing mediators from macrophages, neutrophils and epithelial cells that recruit inflammatory cells to sites of the injury. So far there is no therapy available to reverse the course of COPD. Smoking cessation may reduce the decline of lung function. Only a few drugs provide some relief for patients. Longlasting β-agonists and anticholinergics are applied to achieve a transient bronchodilatation. A variety of antagonists for inflammatory events are under investigation like, LTB₄-, IL-8-, TNFα-inhibitors.

[0006] Chronic inflammatory airway diseases can be attributed to activated inflammatory immune cells, e.g. macrophages. There is a need for modulating the function of macrophages in order to eliminate a basis for inflammatory processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to substances which modulate receptors involved in inflammatory processes and whose modulated functions positively influence inflammatory diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the present invention it was found that macrophages involved in an inflammatory process, preferably in a chronic inflammatory airway disease, more preferably in chronic bronchitis or COPD, show a pattern of differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence and protein expression which differs from the pattern of gene expression of macrophages from healthy donors or donors in an irritated status, which latter do contain macrophages in an activated status. Therefore, macrophages show different activation levels under different inflammatory conditions, and it is shown in the present invention that macrophages in a hyperactive status are involved in an inflammatory process, preferably in a chronic inflammatory airway disease, more preferably in chronic bronchitis or COPD. The present invention provides for the inhibition of the hyperactivation or the reduction of the hyperactive status of a macrophage by allowing the identification of substances which modulate receptors involved in the hyperactivation or maintaining the hyperactive status.

[0009] The invention is based on the identification of a differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein which is involved in causing the induction and/or maintenance of the hyperactive status of macrophages involved in an inflammatory process, preferably in a chronic inflammatory airway disease, more preferably in chronic bronchitis or COPD. Such differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein is in the following named differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein of the invention respectively. In particular, the present invention teaches a link between phenotypic changes in macrophages due to differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence and protein expression pattern and involvement of macrophages in inflammatory processes and, thus, provides a basis for a variety of applications. For example, the present invention provides a method and a test system for determining the expression level of a macrophage protein or differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence of the invention and thereby provides e.g. for methods for diagnosis or monitoring of inflammatory processes with involvement of hyperactivated macrophages in mammalian, preferably human beings, especially such beings suffering from an inflammatory process, preferably in a chronic inflammatory airway disease, more preferably in chronic bronchitis or COPD. The invention also relates to a method for identifying a substance by means of a differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein of the invention processes, which substance modulates, i.e. acts as an inhibitor or activator on the said differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein of the invention and thereby positively influences chronic inflammatory processes by inhibition of the hyperactivation or reduction of the hyperactive status of macrophages, and thereby allows treatment of mammals, preferably human beings, suffering from a said disease. The invention also relates to a method for selectively modulating such a differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein of the invention in a macrophage comprising administering a substance determined to be a modulator of said protein or differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence. The present invention includes the use of said substances for treating beings in need of a treatment of an inflammatory process, preferably a chronic inflammatory airway disease, more preferably chronic bronchitis or COPD.

[0010] For the present invention in a first step differentially expressed nucleic acid sequences and proteins are identified which have a different expression pattern in a hyperactivated macrophage compared to a macrophage which is not hyperactivated. For the sake of conciseness this description deals particularly with investigation of macrophages involved in COPD, however, equivalent results may be observed with samples from patients suffering from other chronic inflammatory airway diseases, e.g. chronic bronchitis. The investigation of the different expression pattern leads to the identification of a series of differentially expressed nucleic acid sequences in macrophages, differentially expressed in dependency on the activation status of a macrophage involved in an inflammatory process, as exemplified in the Examples hereinbelow.

[0011] Briefly, such a differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence is identified by comparative expression profiling experiments using a cell or cellular extract from a hyperactivated macrophage, i.e. for example from the site of inflammation in a COPD and from the corresponding site of control being not suffering from said disease, however, suffering from an irritated condition like cigarette smoke exposure.

[0012] A differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein of the invention can easily be detected by such a method because amongst the differentially expressed macrophage genes a class of differentially expressed nucleic acid sequences can be identified which encodes a class of macrophage surface receptors which is characterized in that it is expressed at a lower or higher level than the control level in a macrophage which is not hyperactivated. Such a macrophage surface receptor of the invention is hereinafter named ILM receptor. However, the invention does not only concern a naturally occurring ILM receptor, but also includes within the meaning of ILM receptor a receptor which is functionally equivalent to, i.e. which shares the binding capacities and the cellular function with an ILM receptor.

[0013] An example for an ILM receptor according to the present invention is a FPRL-1 receptor type receptor including FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2). The term “receptor type receptor” used in context with the present invention, e.g. FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, is a receptor which is “functionally equivalent” to, i.e. which shares the binding capacities and the cellular function with, the respective receptor, e.g. FPRL-1 receptor of SEQ. ID NO:2; the term also encompasses variants, mutants or fragments of a naturally occuring receptor, e.g. FPRL-1 receptor or naturally occuring receptor type receptor, e.g. FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, which variants, mutants or fragments are functionally equivalent to the receptor, e.g. FPRL-1 receptor.

[0014] Further examples for ILM receptors are HM74 receptor type receptor including HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21); AICL receptor type receptor including AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6); ILT1 receptor type receptor including ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12); SHPS-1 receptor type receptor including SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4); KDEL receptor 1 type receptor including KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8); and CSF-1 receptor type receptor including CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10). Preferred is the respective receptor shown in the sequence listing or a variant, mutant or fragment thereof having the same function, even more preferred is the respective receptor shown in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NOs:21, 6, 12, 4, 8, 10. In even more preferred embodiments the receptors are encoded by the nucleic acid sequences having the SEQ ID NOs:20, 5, 11, 3, 7 or 9, respectively.

[0015] A preferred embodiment of an ILM receptor in context with the present invention is a FPRL-1 receptor type receptor. The term FPRL-1 receptor type receptor accordingly also encompasses variants, mutants or fragments, of naturally occuring FPRL-1 receptor or FPRL-1 receptor type receptors, which variants, mutants or fragments are functionally equivalent to the FPRL-1 receptor. An even more preferred embodiment in context with the description of the embodiments of the present invention is the FPRL-1 receptor of SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant or fragment thereof having the same function, even more preferred is the FPRL-1 receptor of SEQ ID NO:2. In a most preferred embodiment, the FPRL-1 receptor is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

[0016] According to the present invention, the function of an ILM receptor expressed at a lower level than the control level is preferably activated in order to inhibit hyperactivation or reduce a hyperactivated status of a macrophage, whereby the function of an ILM receptor which is expressed at a higher level than the control level is preferably inhibited in order to inhibit hyperactivation or reduce a hyperactivated status of a macrophage. A function of a receptor in context with the present invention is any function of a receptor of the invention which is capable of influencing the inflammatory processes. For example, a receptor of the invention mediates inflammation in that it is activated by a ligand (any substance which has the capacity to bind to said receptor to at least one of its domains exposed on the cell surface) and leads to an intracellular signal involved in inflammatory processes.

[0017] In one embodiment the present invention concerns a method for determining a substance to be an activator or inhibitor of an ILM receptor characterized in that the receptor is deregulated preferably overexpressed or downregulated in a macrophage involved in a chronic inflammatory airway disease and which receptor plays a role in mediating inflammation. A method according to the invention comprises the application of a substance of interest to a test system which generates a measurable read-out upon modulation of the ILM receptor or of an ILM receptor function. A test system useful for performing such method of the invention comprises a cell or a cell-free system. For example, in one embodiment according to the invention the system is designed in order to allow the testing of substances acting on the expression level of the differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence, in another embodiment the system allows the testing of substances directly interacting with the receptor or interfering with the binding of the receptor with a natural or an artificial but appropriate ligand. The latter system comprises a receptor of the invention in a way that a substance which should be tested can physically contact said receptor and which direct interaction leads to a measurable read-out indicative for the change of receptor function.

[0018] A method according to the invention comprising a cellular system can be, for example, a method in which a MonoMac6 or a THP-1 cell is used wherein said cell is stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and with a substance selected from a group consisting of LPS and smoke.

[0019] The present invention also provides a test system for determining whether a substance is an activator or an inhibitor according to the invention of an ILM receptor function according to the invention, characterized in that the receptor is involved in a chronic inflammatory airway disease and which receptor plays a role in mediating inflammation, comprising at least an ILM receptor or an expression vector capable of expressing an ILM receptor in a cell or a host cell transformed with an expression vector capable of expressing an ILM receptor.

[0020] For performing a method for determining whether a substance is an activator or an inhibitor of receptor function of the present invention cells as well as cell-free systems can be used. Test systems for performing the method can be, for example, designed and built up by using elements and methods well known in the art. For example, cell-free systems may include, for example, cellular compartments or vesicles comprising a receptor of the invention. Suitable cellular systems include, for example, a suitable prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cell, i.e. comprising a respective receptor of the invention. A cell suitable for performing a said method of the invention may be obtained by recombinant techniques, i.e. after transformation or transfection with a vector suitable for expression of the desired receptor of the invention, or may be a cell line or a cell isolated from a natural source expressing the desired receptor of the invention. A test system according to the invention comprising a cellular system can also be, for example, a test system in which a MonoMac6 or a THP-1 cell is used wherein said cell is stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and with a substance selected from a group consisting of LPS and smoke. A test system according to the invention may include a natural or artificial ligand of the receptor if desirable or necessary for testing whether a substance of interest is an inhibitor or activator of a receptor of the invention. Test systems of the invention may be availbale as kits.

[0021] A test method according to the invention comprises measuring a read-out, i.e. a phenotypic change in the test system, for example, if a cellular system is used a phenotypic change of the cell. Such change may be a change in a naturally occurring or artificial response of the cell to receptor activation or inhibition, e.g. as detailed in the Examples hereinbelow. A test method according to the invention can on the one hand be useful for high throughput testing suitable for determining whether a substance is an inhibitor or activator of the invention, but also e.g. for secondary testing or validation of a hit or lead substance identified in high throughput testing.

[0022] The present invention also concerns a substance identified in a method according to the invention to be an inhibitor or activator of a receptor of the invention. A substance of the present invention is any compound which is capable of activating or preferably inhibiting a function of a receptor according the invention. An example of a way to activate or inhibit a function of a receptor is by influencing the expression level of said receptor. Another example of a way to activate or inhibit a function of a receptor is to apply a substance which directly binds the receptor, thereby activating or blocking functional domains of said receptor, which can be done reversibly or irreversibly, depending on the nature of the substance applied.

[0023] Accordingly, a substance useful for activating or inhibiting receptor function includes substances acting on the expression of a differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence, but also acting on the receptor itself. Therefore, according to the invention the meaning of the term a “substance of the invention” includes but is not limited to nucleic acid sequences coding for the gene of a receptor of the invention or a fragment or variant thereof and being capable of influencing the gene expression level, e.g. nucleic acid molecules suitable as antisense nucleic acid, ribozyme, or for triple helix formation. Another substance of the invention is e.g. an antibody or an organic or inorganic compound directly binding to or interfering with the binding of an appropriate ligand with a receptor of the invention and thereby affecting its function.

[0024] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for determining an expression level of an ILM receptor differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein according to the invention comprising determining the level of said ILM receptor in a macrophage according to the invention. Such a method can be used, for example, for testing whether a substance is capable of influencing differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence expression levels in a method outlined above for determining whether a substance is an activator or inhibitor. A method for determining an expression level of an ILM receptor differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence or protein can, however, also be used for testing the activation status of a macrophage, e.g. for diagnostic purposes or for investigation of the success of treatment of a disease which is caused by the hyperactivated macrophage.

[0025] Accordingly, the invention also relates to a method for diagnosis of a chronic inflammatory disease or monitoring of such disease, e.g. monitoring success in treating beings in need of treatment of such disease, comprising determining the level of the receptor expressed in a macrophage according to the invention. Said macrophage is preferably a mammalian, more preferably a human cell. Accordingly, macrophages of the present invention are preferably obtainable from the site of inflammation in a mammal and more preferably from a site of inflammation in a human being.

[0026] A method for determining expression levels of a receptor according to the invention can, depending on the purpose of determining the expression level, be performed by known procedures such as measuring the concentration of respective RNA transcripts via hybridization techniques or via reporter gene driven assays such as luciferase assays or by measuring the protein concentration of said receptor using respective antibodies to verify the identity of said protein.

[0027] The present invention relates to the use of a substance according to the invention for the treatment of a chronic inflammatory airways disease according to the invention. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one of the substances according to the invention determined to be an activator or an inhibitor using the method for determining whether the substance is an activator or an inhibitor according to the invention characterized in that the respective receptor according to the invention is overexpressed in a macrophage according to the invention involved in a chronic inflammatory airway disease according to the invention. The composition may be manufactured in a manner that is itself known, e.g. by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, levigating, powdering, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping or lyophilizing processes.

[0028] In order to use substances activating or inhibiting according to the invention as drugs for treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases, the substances can be tested in animal models for example an animal suffering from an inflammatory airway disorder or a transgenic animal expressing a receptor according to the invention.

[0029] Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of a substance according to the invention can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures, which include conducting cell culture and animal experiments to determine the IC₅₀, LD₅₀ and ED₅₀. The data obtained are used for determining the animal or more preferred the human dose range, which will also depend on the dosage form (tablets, capsules, aerosol sprays ampules, etc.) and the administration route (for example transdermal, oral, buccal, nasal, enteral, parenteral, inhalative, intratracheal, or rectal).

[0030] A pharmaceutical composition containing a least one substance according to the invention as an active ingredient can be formulated in conventional manner. Methods for making such formulations can be found in manuals, e.g. “Remington Pharmaceutical Science”. Examples for ingredients that are useful for formulating at least one substance according to the present invention are also found in WO 99/18193, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0031] In a further aspect the invention teaches a method for treating a chronic inflammatory airway disease according to the invention which method comprises administering to a being preferably to a human being in need of such treatment a suitable amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one substance determined to be an activator or inhibitor according to a method for determining whether a substance is an activator or an inhibitor according to the invention of an ILM receptor according to the invention characterized in that the receptor is overexpressed in a macrophage according to the invention and plays a role in mediating inflammation involved in a chronic inflammatory airway disease according to the invention.

[0032] In another embodiment the invention relates to a method for selectively modulating ILM receptor concentration in a macrophage, comprising administering a substance determined to be an activator or inhibitor of a receptor according to the invention.

[0033] Included herein are exemplified embodiments, which are intended as illustrations of single aspects of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0034] All publications and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0035] Comparative Expression Profiling and FPLR-1 Cloning

[0036] The following is an illustration of how comparative expression profiling can be performed in order to identify receptors according to the present invention.

[0037] 1.1. Selection of Patients

[0038] Three groups of subjects are studied: healthy non-smokers, healthy smokers and patients with COPD.

[0039] In order to assess lung function subjects have to perform spirometry. A simple calculation based on age and height is used to characterise the results. COPD subjects are included if their FEV₁ % predicted is less than 70%. Healthy smokers are age and smoking history matched with the COPD subjects but have normal lung function. Healthy non-smokers have normal lung function and have never smoked. The latter group has a methacholine challenge to exclude asthma. This technique requires increasing doses of methacholine to be given to the subject, with spirometry between each dose. When the FEV₁ falls 20% the test is stopped and the PC₂₀ is calculated. This is the dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV₁ and we will require a value of greater than 32 as evidence of absence of asthma. All subjects have skin prick tests to common allergens and are required to have negative results. This excludes atopic individuals. The clinical history of the subjects is monitored and examined in order to exclude concomitant disease.

[0040] 1.2. BAL (Bronchoalveolar Lavage) Procedure

[0041] Subjects are sedated with midazolam prior to the BAL. Local anaesthetic spray is used to anaesthetize the back of the throat. A 7 mm Olympus bronchoscope is used. The lavaged area is the right middle lobe. 250 ml of sterile saline is instilled and immediately aspirated. The resulting aspirate contains macrophages.

[0042] 1.3. BAL Processing

[0043] BAL is filtered through sterile gauze to remove debris. The cells are washed twice in HBSS, resuspended in 1 ml HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution) and counted. The macrophages are spun to a pellet using 15 ml Falcon blue-cap polypropylene, resuspended in Trizol reagent (Gibco BRL Life Technologies) at a concentration of 1 ml Trizol reagent per 10 million cells and then frozen at −70° C.

[0044] 1.4. Differential Gene Expression Analysis

[0045] Total RNA is extracted from macrophage samples obtained according to Example 1.3. Cell suspensions in Trizol are homogenized through pipetting and incubated at room temperature for 5 minutes. 200μ chloroform per ml Trizol is added, the mixture carefully mixed for 15 seconds and incubated for 3 more minutes at room temperature. The samples are spun at 10,000 g for 15 minutes at 4° C. The upper phase is transferred into a new reaction tube and the RNA is precipitated by adding 0.5 ml isopropanol per ml Trizol for 10 minutes at room temperature. Then, the precipitate is pelleted by using a microcentifuge for 10 minutes at 4° C. with 10,000 g, the pellet is washed twice with 75% ethanol, air dried and resuspended in DEPC-H₂O.

[0046] An RNA cleanup with Qiagen RNeasy Total RNA isolation kit (Qiagen) is performed in order to improve the purity of the RNA. The purity of the RNA is determined by agarose gelelectrophoresis and the concentration is measured by UV absorption at 260 nm. 5 μg of each RNA is used for cDNA synthesis. First and second strand synthesis are performed with the SuperScript Choice system (Gibco BRL Life Technologies). In a total volume of 11 μl RNA and 1 μl of 100 □M T7-(dt)₂₄ primer, sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:13, are heated up to 70° C. for 10 minutes and then cooled down on ice for 2 minutes. First strand buffer to a final concentration of 1×, DTT to a concentration of 10 mM and a dNTP mix to a final concentration of 0.5 mM are added to a total volume of 18 μl. The reaction mix is incubated at 42° C. for 2 minutes and 2 μl of Superscript II reverse transcriptase (200 U/μl) are added. For second strand synthesis 130 μl of a mix containing 1.15× second strand buffer, 230 μM dNTPs, 10 U E.coli DNA ligase (10U/μl), E.coli DNA polymerase (10 U/μl), RNase H (2U/□l) is added to the reaction of the first strand synthesis and carefully mixed with a pipette. Second strand synthesis is performed at 16° C. for 2 hours, then 2 μl of T4 DNA polymerase (5 U/μl) are added, incubated for 5 minutes at 16° C. and the reaction is stopped by adding 10 μl 0.5 M EDTA.

[0047] Prior to cRNA synthesis the double stranded cDNA is purified. The cDNA is mixed with an equal volume of phenol:chloroform:isoamylalcohol (25:24:1) and spun through the gel matrix of phase lock gels (Eppendorf) in a microcentrifuge in order to separate the cDNA from unbound nucleotides. The aqueous phase is precipitated with ammoniumacetate and ethanol. Subsequently, the cDNA is used for in vitro transcription. cRNA synthesis is performed with the ENZO BioArray High Yield RNA Transcript Labeling Kit according to manufacturer's protocol (ENZO Diagnostics). Briefly, the cDNA is incubated with 1× HY reaction buffer, 1× biotin labeled ribonucleotides, 1× DTT, 1× RNase Inhibitor Mix and 1× T7 RNA Polymerase in a total volume of 40 μl for 5 hours at 37° C. Then, the reaction mix is purified via RNeasy columns (Qiagen), the cRNA precipitated with ammonium acetate and ethanol and finally resuspended in DEPC-treated water. The concentration is determined via UV spectrometry at 260 nm. The remaining cRNA is incubated with 1× fragmentation buffer (5× fragmentation buffer: 200 mM Tris acetate, pH 8.1, 500 mM KOAc, 150 mM MgOAc) at 94° C. for 35 minutes.

[0048] For hybridization of the DNA chip 15 μg of cRNA is used, mixed with 50 pM biotin-labeled control B2 oligonucleotide, sequence shown SEQ ID NO:14, 1× cRNA cocktail, 0.1 mg/ml herring sperm DNA, 0.5 mg/ml acetylated BSA, 1× MES (2-[N-morpholino]-ethanesulfonic acid) hybridization buffer in a total volume of 300 μl. The hybridization mixture is heated up to 99° C. for 5 minutes, cooled down to 45° C. for 10 minutes and 200 μl of the mix are used to fill the probe array. The hybridization is performed at 45° C. at 60 rpm for 16 hours. After the hybridization the hybridization mix on the chip is replaced by 300 μl non-stringent wash buffer (100 mM MES, 100 mM NaCl, 0.01% Tween 20). The chip is inserted into an Affymetrix Fluidics station and washing and staining is performed according to the EukGE-WS2 protocol. The staining solution per chip consists of 600 μl 1× stain buffer (100 mM MES, 1 M NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20), 2 mg/ml BSA, 10 μg/ml SAPE (streptavidin phycoerythrin) (Dianova), the antibody solution consists of 1× stain buffer, 2 mg/ml BSA, 0.1 mg/ml goat IgG, 3 μg/ml biotinylated antibody.

[0049] After the washing and staining procedure the chips are scanned on the HP Gene Array Scanner (Hewlett Packard).

[0050] Data Analysis is performed by pairwise comparisons between chips hybridized with RNA isolated from COPD smokers and chips hybridized with RNA isolated from healthy smokers. One of the different expressed nucleic acid sequences identified is coding for FPRL-1 (formyl peptide receptor like-1) receptor (also named LXA₄R, HM63, FPR2, FPRH2, FMLP-R-II, Lipoxin A4 receptor); see SEQ ID NOs:1 and 2. It belongs to the chemoattractant peptide receptor family including receptors for fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine), IL-8 or C5a. These receptors show a seven-transmembrane helix motif and signal through heterotrimeric G-proteins. FPRL-1 receptor was identified as the high-affinity receptor for lipoxin A₄ (LXA₄) (Murphy, P. M. et al. 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:7637-7643). Alveolar macrophages have been shown to produce lipoxins, which are synthesized by 15-lipoxygenase (Kim, S. J., 1988, Biochem. Biophys Res. Commun. 150:870-876). Lipoxin A₄ (LXA₄) stimulates chemotaxis, adherence and calcium release in monocytes. In neutrophils, though, LXA₄ inhibits chemotaxis and adhesion, and downregulates transmigration through epithelial cells (Maddox, J. F. and Serhan, C. N. 1996, J. Exp. Med. 183:137-146). LXA₄ was found elevated in BALs from patients with asthma (Lee, T. H. et al. 1990, Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 141:1453-1458 and Serhan, J. N. 1999, Lipoxygenases and Their Metabolites, ed. Nigam and Pace-Asciak, Plenum Press, New York 133-149). In particular, it was found to cause a dose-dependent contraction of human bronchi (Christie et al. 1992, Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 145:1281-1284). LXA₄ is considered to be a generic modulator of inflammation in the lung.

[0051]1.5. FPRL-1 Receptor Overexpressed in COPD Macrophages

[0052] FPRL-1 receptor is consistently found upregulated (66.7%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is demonstrated by calculated “fold change” values from 42 pairwise comparisons and by average difference (“avg diff”) values (Table 1, 2). Relative expression levels for non-smokers and healthy smokers are similar and elevated levels are restricted to patients with COPD. Therefore, COPD-specific effects cause the upregulation. TABLE 1 Expression pattern for FPRL-1 receptor: fold change calculation for 42 pairwise comparisons between COPD and healthy smokers. Only values higher than 2fold and lower than -2fold are considered as deregulated. Thus FPRL-1 receptor was 28 times upregulated and 14 times not regulated. fold fold fold change comparison change comparison change comparison 2.7 39vs2 2.9 5vs2 3.3 1vs2 4.6 39vs37 3.6 5vs37 5.5 1vs37 2 39vs43 1.4 5vs43 1.4 1vs43 3.1 39vs56 3 5vs56 3.9 1vs56 4.1 39vs57 3.2 5vs57 5.3 1vs57 2.9 39vs58 3 5vs58 3.6 1vs58 2.2 39vs62 2.7 5vs62 2.7 1vs62 1.3 44vs2 2.7 6vs2 1.4 3vs2 2.7 44vs37 4.1 6vs37 2.9 3vs37 −1.9 44vs43 1.1 6vs43 −1.7 3vs43 1.5 44vs56 3.2 6vs56 1.7 3vs56 2 44vs57 3.5 6vs57 2.3 3vs57 1.4 44vs58 2.9 6vs58 1.5 3vs58 1.1 44vs62 2.2 6vs62 1.2 3vs62

[0053] TABLE 2 Expression levels of FPRL-1 receptor: “avg diff” values, a relative indicator of the intensity of the hybridisation signal on the chip, for each patient are listed; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avg diff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 1276.7 P 2 490.4 P 48/49 248.2 P 3 553.6 P 37 52.1 P 50/52 565.7 P 5 1710.2 P 43 940 P 54/61 142.4 P 6 1046.9 P 56 327.1 P 39 1025.2 P 57 238.7 P 44 507.1 P 58 358.2 P62 469.6 mean + std. 1020.0 ± 452.5 410.9 ± 276.3 318.8 ± 220.3 dev. Median 1036.1 327.1 248.2

[0054] Chip data for FPRL-1 receptor are confirmed by TaqMan analysis (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems) for three COPD and two healthy smokers. Fold changes obtained by TaqMan very much resemble the data from the gene chips (Table 3). TABLE 3 Upregulation of FPRL-1 receptor in COPD smokers determined by gene chips and TaqMan. Fold change determination for FPRL-1 receptor by chip data in six comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers is validated by analysis of the same samples by TaqMan and the relative upregulation is calculated with GAPDH as a housekeeping gene. Comparison Chip TaqMan Comparison Chip TaqMan 1vs2 3.3 4.1 1vs37 5.5 4.6 3vs2 1.4 2.2 3vs37 2.9 2.5 39vs2 2.7 6.0 39vs37 4.6 6.8

[0055] Another differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence identified codes for HM74 receptor, see SEQ ID NOs:20 and 21, which belongs to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors. HM74 receptor was cloned from a human monocytic library (Nomura, H. et al. 1993, Intemat. Immunol. 5:1239-1249). To date, the ligand has not been identified. HM74 receptor is consistently found upregulated (54.8%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is demonstrated by calculated “fold change” values (Table 5) from 42 pairwise comparisons and by “avg diff” values (Table 6). TABLE 5 Expression pattern for HM74 receptor: fold change calculation for 42 pairwise comparisons between COPD and healthy smokers. Only values higher than 2fold and lower than -2fold are considered as deregulated. Thus, HM74 receptor was 23 times upregulated and 17 times not regulated fold fold fold change comparison change comparison change comparison 1.2 39vs2 4.5 5vs2 −1.2 1vs2 4.7 39vs37 13.8 5vs37 2.8 1vs37 −2.1 39vs43 2.5 5vs43 −2.2 1vs43 2.9 39vs56 8.6 5vs56 1.8 1vs56 2.6 39vs57 8.9 5vs57 1.6 1vs57 2.6 39vs58 7.7 5vs58 1.6 1vs58 2.4 39vs62 8.5 5vs62 1.5 1vs62 2.8 44vs2 1 6vs2 −1.1 3vs2 8.8 44vs37 3.5 6vs37 3 3vs37 1.5 44vs43 −1.7 6vs43 −2 3vs43 5.5 44vs56 2.2 6vs56 1.9 3vs56 5.4 44vs57 2 6vs57 1.7 3vs57 4.9 44vs58 1.9 6vs58 1.7 3vs58 5.2 44vs62 1.9 6vs62 1.7 3vs62

[0056] TABLE 6 Expression levels of HM74 receptor: “avg diff” values, a relative indicator of the intensity of the hybridisation signal on the chip, for each patient are listed; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avg diff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 3233 P 2 3916.3 P 48/49 1690.7 P 3 3474.5 P 37 1154.5 P 50/52 4176.4 P 5 17671 P 43 5770.5 P 54/61 3504.8 P 6 4094.2 P 56 1860.2 P 39 4201.3 P 57 1639.8 P 44 11068.5 P 58 2080.2 P62 1721.6 mean + std. 7290.4 ± 5879.0 2591.9 ± 1652.5 3124.0 ± 1285.9 dev. median 4147.8 2243.6 3504.8

[0057] Chip data for HM74 receptor are confirmed by TaqMan analysis for three COPD and two healthy smokers. Fold changes obtained by TaqMan very much resemble the data from the gene chips (Table 7). TABLE 7 Upregulation of HM74 receptor in COPD smokers determined by gene chips and TaqMan. Fold change determination for HM74 receptor by chip data in six comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers is validated by analysis of the same samples by TaqMan and the relative upregulation is calculated with GAPDH as a housekeeping gene. Comparison Chip TaqMan Comparison Chip TaqMan 1vs2 0.8 2.3 1vs37 2.8 4.5 3vs2 0.9 0.8 3vs37 3.0 1.4 39vs2 1.2 1.4 39vs37 4.7 2.6

[0058] Another differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence identified codes for AICL receptor (activation-induced C-type lectin), see SEQ ID NOs:5 and 6., which is a type II membrane protein that recognizes and binds N-acetyl-galactosamin or -glucosamin moieties of plasma glycoproteins (Oda, S. et al. 1988, J. Biochem. 104:600-605). It is expressed in lymphoid tissues and in hematopoetic cells as well as in NK and T cells. Its expression is induced during lymphocyte activation and after stimulation with PMA (Hamann, J. et al. 1997, Immunogenetics 45:295-300). Since homologues of AICL receptor are involved in signal transmission in lymphocytes and in lymphocyte proliferation, it is tempting to assume that AICL receptor also participates in these processes (Hamann, J. et al. 1993, Immunol. 150:4920:4927).

[0059] AICL receptor is consistently found upregulated (66.7%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is demonstrated by calculated “fold change” values (Table 8) from 42 pairwise comparisons and by “avg diff” values (Table 9). The p value for the comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers was 0.01. TABLE 8 Expression pattern for AICL receptor: fold change calculation for 42 pairwise comparisons between COPD and healthy smokers. Only values higher than 2fold and lower than -2fold are considered as deregulated. Thus, AICL receptor was 28 times upregulated and 14 times not regulated. fold fold fold change comparison change comparison change comparison 1 39vs2 1.5 5vs2 −1.3 1vs2 1.9 39vs37 2.8 5vs37 1.4 1vs37 −1.4 39vs43 2.4 5vs43 1.3 1vs43 3.3 39vs56 5 5vs56 2.7 1vs56 6.9 39vs57 10 5vs57 5.3 1vs57 3.1 39vs58 4.5 5vs58 2.3 1vs58 3.3 39vs62 5.1 5vs62 2.7 1vs62 1.4 44vs2 −1.4 6vs2 −1.5 3vs2 2.6 44vs37 1.2 6vs37 1.2 3vs37 2.3 44vs43 1.1 6vs43 1.1 3vs43 4.2 44vs56 2.3 6vs56 2.3 3vs56 9.6 44vs57 4.5 6vs57 4.5 3vs57 4.3 44vs58 2 6vs58 2 3vs58 4.2 44vs62 2.3 6vs62 2.3 3vs62

[0060] TABLE 9 Expression levels of AICL receptor: “avg diff” values, a relative indicator of the intensity of the hybridisation signal on the chip, for each patient are listed; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avg diff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 3415.3 P 2 4984.2 P 48/49 748.4 P 3 3412.9 P 37 2388.6 P 50/52 1726.5 P 5 6585.8 P 43 2722.5 P 54/61 1087.9 P 6 3444.7 P 56 1121.1 P 39 4548.4 P 57 656.1 P 44 6291.5 P 58 1476.0 P 62 1113.1 mean + std. 4622.4 ± 1474.3 2065.9 ± 1482.0 1187.5 ± 496.6 dev. median 3996.6 1476.0 1087.9

[0061] Another differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence identified codes for ILT1 receptor (immunoglobulin-like transcript 1), see SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12. ILT1 receptor belongs to the Ig superfamily receptors that is related to a subset of activating receptors similar to NK cell receptors for MHC class I molecules. ILT1 receptor is a 69 kDa glycosylated transmembrane receptor which is mainly expressed in lung and liver and in monocytes, granulocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (Samaridis, J. and Colonna, M., 1997, Eur. J. Immunol. 27:660-665). Upon crosslinking with antibodies ILT1 receptor interacts with the γ-chain of the Fc receptor (FcεRIγ(Nakajima et al., 1999 J. Immunol. 162(1):5-8)

[0062] ILT1 receptor is found consistently upregulated (59.5%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is demonstrated by “avg diff” values (Table 10). The p value for the comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers was 0.01. TABLE 10 Expression levels of ILT1 receptor: “avg diff” values for each patient are listed as well as mean and median values for the three groups of subjects; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avgdiff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 493.5 P 2 412.3 P 48/49 519.7 P 3 1186.0 P 37 457.2 P 50/52 645.0 P 5 1097.1 P 43 382.6 P 54/61 491.2 P 6 1387.6 P 56 180.5 P 39 513.5 P 57 367.8 P 44 1374.5 P 58 720.8 P 62 279.1 mean + std. dev. 1008.8 ± 406.8 400.0 ± 168.6 552.0 ± 81.8 median 1141.6 382.6 519.7

[0063] Another differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence identified codes for SHPS-1 receptor (SIRP-alpha1, MYD1, MFR), see SEQ ID NOs:3 and 4, which is known to be highly expressed in macrophages (Fujioka, Y. et al. 1996, Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:6887-6899 and Kharitonenkov, A. et al. 1997, Nature 386:181-186; Brooke, G. P. et al. 1998, Eur J. Immunol. 28:1:11). SHPS-1 receptor is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to immunoglobulin superfamily. It contains three extracellular Ig-like domains, a cytoplasmic tail with a potential tyrosine phosphorylation site and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM). Tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1 receptor occurs upon activation of receptor tyrosine kinases and leads to an association with SHP-1 (in macrophages) and SHP-2 (in non-hematopoetic cells) (Veillette, A. et al. 1998, J. Biol. Chem. 273:22719-22728). Moreover, other proteins have been found to associate with the intracytoplasmic domain of SHPS-1 receptor, and it is therefore tempting to assume that SHPS-1 receptor acts as a scaffolding protein.

[0064] SHPS-1 receptor is consistently found downregulated (73.8%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is demonstrated by calculated “fold change” values (Table 11) from 42 pairwise comparisons and by “avg diff” values (Table 12). The p value for the comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers is 0.005. TABLE 11 Expression pattern for SHPS-1 receptor: fold change calculation for 42 pairwise comparisons between COPD and healthy smokers. Only values higher than 2fold and lower than -2fold are considered as deregulated. Thus, SHPS-1 receptor is 29 times downregulated and 13 times not regulated fold fold fold change comparison change comparison change comparison −1.3 39vs2 −3.4 5vs2 1.3 1vs2 −2.8 39vs37 −6.8 5vs37 −1.7 1vs37 −1.6 39vs43 −8.4 5vs43 −2.1 1vs43 −3.0 39vs56 −7.1 5vs56 −1.8 1vs56 −5.6 39vs57 −13.2 5vs57 −3.4 1vs57 −5.4 39vs58 −12.6 5vs58 −3.2 1vs58 −3.1 39vs62 −7.5 5vs62 −1.9 1vs62 1.4 44vs2 −2.1 6vs2 −1.1 3vs2 −1.5 44vs37 −4.5 6vs37 −2.3 3vs37 −1.8 44vs43 −5.6 6vs43 −2.9 3vs43 −1.6 44vs56 −4.7 6vs56 −2.4 3vs56 −2.6 44vs57 −8.9 6vs57 −4.6 3vs57 −2.5 44vs58 −8.5 6vs58 −4.4 3vs58 −1.7 44vs62 −4.9 6vs62 −2.5 3vs62

[0065] TABLE 12 Expression levels of SHPS-1 receptor: “avg diff” values for each patient are listed as well as mean and median values for the three groups of subjects; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avg diff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 1837.8 P 2 1442.6 P 48/49 4979.9 P 3 1361.1 P 37 3115.0 P 50/52 1120.5 P 5 291.1 P 43 3897.3 P 54/61 2090.6 P 6 696.3 P 56 3280.8 P 39 1105.4 P 57 6220.7 P 44 2466.0 P 58 5928.9 P 62 3431.7 mean + std. 1293.0 ± 783.9 3902.4 ± 1671.3 2730.3 ± 2007.7 dev. median 1233.4 3431.7 2090.6

[0066] Another differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence identified codes for KDEL receptor 1, see SEQ ID NOs:7 and 8, which is a receptor that has important functions in protein folding and assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum. It recognizes soluble proteins with the amino acid sequence K-D-E-L and retrieves these proteins after binding to the endoplasmic reticulum (Townsley, F. M. et al. 1993, EMBO J. 12:2821-2829). KDEL receptor 1 may be involved in the regulation of protein transport in the Golgi complex. Upon binding of a ligand the KDEL receptor dimerizes and interacts with ARF GAP (GTPase-activating protein for the ADP-ribosylation factor) (Aoe, T. et al 1997, EMBO J. 16:7305-7316).

[0067] It is consistently found downregulated (71.4%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is shown by “avg diff” values (Table 13). The p value for the comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers is 0.003. TABLE 13 Expression levels of KDEL receptor 1: “avg diff” values for each patient are listed as well as mean and median values for the three groups of subjects; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avg diff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 877.6 P 2 930.6 P 48/49 1532.9 P 3 1227.2 P 37 2151.4 P 50/52 786.4 P 5 870.6 P 43 1628.6 P 54/61 1571.5 P 6 1188.6 P 56 2232.9 P 39 1404.5 P 57 2295.1 P 44 798.1 P 58 2364.1 P 62 2092.0 mean + std. 1061.1 ± 245.3 1956.4 ± 512.1 1296.9 ± 442.6 dev. median 1033.1 2151.4 1532.9

[0068] Another differentially expressed nucleic acid sequence identified codes for the macrophage colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor precursor (CSF-1 receptor, c-fms); see SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10. The CSF-1 receptor belongs to the subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. Activation of the CSF-1 receptor results in complex formation of multiple proteins, e.g. CSF-1 receptor, Shc, PI3K, Grb2, Cb1, SHP-1, Src. Moreover, ligand binding also triggers rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a plethora of cytoplasmic proteins like Cb1, STAT3, STAT5a, STAT5b, p85PI3K, SHP-1, Vav and proteins involved in cytoskeletal organization (Yeung, Y.-G. et al. 1998, J. Biol. Chem. 273:17128-17137). CSF-1 receptor regulates survival, proliferation, differentiation and morphology of mononuclear phagocytes (Hampe, A. et al. 1989, Oncogene Res. 4:9-17).

[0069] CSF-1 receptor is consistently found downregulated (45.2%) in COPD smokers compared to healthy smokers. This is shown by “avg diff” values (Table 14). The p value for the comparisons between COPD smokers and healthy smokers is 0.002. TABLE 14 Expression levels of CSF-1 receptor: “avg diff” values for each patient are listed as well as mean and median values for the three groups of subjects; OS means obstructed smoker, HS healthy smoker, NS non-smoker OS avg diff HS avg diff NS avg diff P 1 1136.0 P 2 2591.4 P 48/49 2967.7 P 3 2262.5 P 37 3070.6 P 50/52 2041.6 P 5 829.5 P 43 2799.2 P 54/61 2376.4 P 6 1720.3 P 56 3293.1 P 39 1860.7 P 57 3703.4 P 44 1334.1 P 58 1904.9 P 62 2144.5 mean + std. 1523.9 ± 522.7 2786.7 ± 633.2 2461.9 ± 468.9 dev. median 1527.2 2799.2 2376.4

[0070] 1.6. Use of TaqMan Analysis for Validation of DNA-Chip Data and Diagnosis

[0071] mRNA-expression profiles obtained by DNA-chips are validated by TaqMan analysis with the same RNA preparations. Moreover, the method is also applied to determine mRNA-levels for FPRL-1 receptor in cultured cell lines and in cells isolated from human beings in order to monitor the progress of the disease.

[0072] Total RNA isolated from U937-cells that were treated for 3 days with 10 nM retinoic acid is used in order to optimize of reaction conditions for determining the mRNA-levels of FPRL-1 receptor and setting standard curves for FPRL-1 receptor and GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) as a housekeeping gene. Quantification of FPRL-1 receptor is done with the following primers: Forward primer (FP) see SEQ ID NO:17, Reverse primer (RP) see SEQ ID NO:18 and TaqMan probe (TP) see SEQ ID NO:19 labeled with reporter dye FAM at the 5′ end and quencher dye TAMRA at the 3′ end. For determining mRNA-levels for GAPDH a predeveloped kit “TaqMan GAPDH Control Reagents” (P/N 402869) from Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems is used. The GAPDH probe is labeled with JOE as the reporter dye and TAMRA as the quencher dye. RT-PCR reactions are performed with the “TaqMan EZ RT-PCR Core Reagents” (P/N N808-0236) kit from Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems. Standard curves for FPRL-1 receptor and GAPDH are performed with increasing concentrations of RNA from U937 cells treated with 1 μM retinoic acid ranging from 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 to 100 ng per assay. Reaction mixes contain 1× TaqMan EZ-buffer, 3 mM Mn(Oac)₂, 300 μM dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and 600 μM dUTP, 2.5 U rTth DNA polymerase, 0.25 U AmpErase UNG in a total volume of 25 μl. For analysis of FPRL-1 receptor reaction mixes include 300 nM of FP and RP and 100 nM of TP. The primer concentrations for determining GAPDH levels are 200 nM for each primer and 100 nM for the GAPDH Taqman probe. In order to determine mRNA levels for FPRL-1 receptor and GAPDH in human subjects and cell lines 16 to 50 ng RNA per reaction are used. All samples are run in triplicate. The reactions are performed with “MicroAmp Optical 96-well reaction plates” sealed with “MicroAmp Optical Caps” (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems) in an ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection System (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems). The PCR conditions are 2 minutes at 50° C., 30 minutes at 60° C., 5 minutes at 95° C., followed by 40 cycles of 20 seconds at 94° C. and 1 minute at 59° C. Data analysis is done either by determining the mRNA levels for FPRL-1 receptor and GAPDH according to the standard curves or by directly relating C_(T) values for FPRL-1 receptor to C_(T) values for GAPDH. The latter can be done for these genes since the efficiencies for both reactions are around 95%. The same method is used for investigating mRNA levels isolated from COPD patients in order to diagnose the disease or, after treatment of patients with their putative active drugs to monitor the success of the treatment. The other receptors mentioned in example 1.5 are investigated accordingly by using the respective appropriate primers.

[0073] 1.7. Cell Systems

[0074] Human monocytic/macrophage cell lines HL-60, U937, THP-1, and MonoMac 6 are used as cellular model systems. Cells are grown in RPMI 1640 media containing 10% FCS supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 2 mM glutamine, and 1× non-essential amino acids. The media for MonoMac6 cells also includes 5 ml/l OPI media supplement (Sigma). MonoMac6 cells are exclusively cultured in 24-well plates. Cells are maintained in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. and tested regularly for contamination by mycoplasma.

[0075] Differentiation is achieved by adding 10 nM PMA (phorbol 12 myristate-13 acetate) to the media.

[0076]1.8. Cloning of FPRL-1 Receptor

[0077] FPRL-1 receptor is cloned from a total RNA extracted from U937 cells that were treated with 1 μM retinoic acid for three days. 5 μg RNA is reverse transcribed into cDNA with 5 ng oligo(dt)₁₈ primer, 1× first strand buffer, 10 mM DTT, 0.5 mM dNTPs and 2 U Superscript II (Gibco BRL Life Technologies) at 42° C. for 50 minutes. Then, the reaction is terminated at 70° C. for 15 minutes and the cDNA concentration is determined by UV-spectrophotometry. For amplification of FPRL-1 receptor 100 ng of the cDNA and 10 pmol of sequence-specific primers for FPRL-1 receptor (forward primer attB 1; see SEQ ID NO:15 and reverse primer attB2; see SEQ ID NO:16) are used for PCR. Reaction conditions are: 2 minutes of 94° C., 35 cycles with 30 seconds at 94° C., 30 seconds at 53° C., 90 seconds at 72° C., followed by 7 minutes at 72° C. with Taq DNA-polymerase. The reaction mix is separated on a 2% agarose gel, a band of about 1,000 bp is cut out and purified with the QIAEX II extraction kit (Qiagen). The concentration of the purified band is determined and about 120 ng are incubated with 300 ng of pDONR201, the donor vector of the Gateway system (Gibco BRL Life Technologies), 1× BP clonase reaction buffer, BP clonase enzyme mix in a total volume of 20 μl for 60 minutes at 25° C. Then, reactions are incubated with 2 μl of proteinase K and incubated for 10 minutes at 37° C. The reaction mix is then electroporated into competent DB3.1 cells and plated on Kanamycin-containing plates. Clones are verified by sequencing. A clone, designated pDONR-HM63 carrying the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 is used for further experiments.

[0078] The other receptors mentioned in example 1.5 are cloned using analogous methods.

[0079] 1.9. Transfection of FPRL-1 Receptor

[0080] The vector containing FPRL-1 receptor described under 1.8 is used to transfer the cDNA for FPRL-1 receptor to the expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)/attR that contains the “attR1” and “attR2” recombination sites of the Gateway cloning system (Gibco BRL Life Technologies) where FPRL-1 receptor is expressed under the control of the CMV promoter. 150 ng of the “entry vector” pDONR-HM63 is mixed with 150 ng of the “destination vector” pcDNA3.1(+)/attR, 4 μl of the LR Clonase enzyme mix, 4 μl LR Clonase reaction buffer, added up with TE (Tris/EDTA) to 20 μl and incubated at 25° C. for 60 minutes. Then, 2 μl of proteinase K solution is added and incubated for 10 minutes at 37° C. 1 μl of the reaction mix is transformed into 50 μl DH5□ by a heat-shock of 30 seconds at 42° C. after incubating cells with DNA for 30 minutes on ice. After heat-shock of the cells 450 μl of S.O.C. is added and cells are incubated at 37° C. for 60 minutes. Cells (100 μl) are plated on LB plates containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin and incubated over night.

[0081] A colony that contains pcDNA3.1(+)/attR with FPRL-1 receptor as an insert is designated pcDNA/FPRL1 and used for transfection studies.

[0082] Cell clones containing vectors obtained in 1.8 carrying nucleic acid sequences coding for the other receptors described 1.5 are prepared using analogous methods.

Example 2

[0083] Cellular Systems and Phenotypic Effects of FPRL-1 Receptor

[0084] Analogous methods as described herein in example 2 for FPRL-1 receptor are also performed using the other receptors described in 1.5.

[0085]2.1. Cell Systems

[0086] Human monocytic/macrophage cell lines HL-60, U937, THP-1, and MonoMac6 are used as cellular model systems. Cells are grown in RPMI 1640 media containing 10% FCS supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 2 mM glutamine, and 1× non-essential amino acids. The media for MonoMac6 also includes 5 ml/l OPI media supplement (Sigma). MonoMac6 cells are exclusively cultured in 24-well plates. All cells are maintained in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. and tested regularly for contamination by mycoplasma.

[0087] Differentiation is achieved by adding 10 nM PMA (phorbol 12 myristate-13 acetate) to the media.

[0088] Phenotypic effects of FPRL-1 receptor (2.2.-2.9.)

[0089] 2.2. Ligand Binding Assay

[0090] 300 ml cell culture is harvested with EDTA solution, the suspension is used to spin down the cells at 110-220×g, resuspended in 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.4, 2.5 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 mM MgCl₂, 40 μg/ml bacitracin, 4 μg/ml leupeptin, 4 μg/ml chymostatin, 10 μg/ml pefabloc, 2 μM phosphoamidon and 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA Fraktion V, BI Bioproducts) and diluted to 2×10 cells/ml.

[0091] 0.5 ml aliquots are incubated with 0.3 nM 3^(H)-lipoxinA4 (specific activity approximately 10 Ci/mmol) or in the presence of increasing concentrations of untritiated lipoxin A4 (3-300 nM) for 30 minutes at 4° C. The incubation is terminated by harvesting the cells by a Cell-Harvester (Skatron) with GF/B filters, washed three times with 3 ml chilled buffer consisting of 50 mM Tris/HCl, 100 mM NaCl, 10 mM MgCl₂, pH 7.4 and the filter-pieces transferred in vials. 2 ml scintillation cocktail is added and the radioactivity determined with a scintillation counter (LKB). Non-specific binding is determined in the presence of 100 nM unlabeled lipoxinA4. A series of peptides and low molecular weight compounds, including the peptide ligand MMK-1 (Klein, C. et al. 1998, Nature Biotech. 16:1334-1337), is used in a concentration range of 0.5 to 300 nM under the same reaction conditions in order to displace tritiated lipoxin A4. The bound radioactivity (on the filter pieces) is estimated with a counter, the values are recorded on-line and fitted to a model. IC₅₀ values for any substance to block binding of 3^(H)-lipoxin A4 are calculated.

[0092] 2.3. Ca²⁺-Release Determined by FLIPR-Assay

[0093] FLIPR-assay (Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader) with FPRL-1 receptor is performed with different CHO cell lines that constitutively expresse the G-protein α-subunit α16 or the chimeric G-proteins Gqi5 or Gqo5 (these are two Gα(q) chimeras harboring the last five residues of Gα(i) or Gα(o)) and FPRL-1 receptor. The cell lines CHO/Galpha16 (CHO/Galpha16), CHO/GalphaGqi5 and CHOGalphaGqo5 (Boehringer Ingelheim) that constitutively express Gα16, Gqi5 or Gqo5 aretransfected with the FPRL-1 receptor expression vector. The cell lines are cultured in Ham's F12 media (Bio Whittaker) with 10% FCS (fetal calf serum), 2 mM glutamine, 200 ng/ml hygromycin, 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. 3-7×10⁵ cells are seeded in a 60 mm petri dish and grown over night. Cells that are grown to a confluency of 50-80% are used for transfection. 6 μl FuGene6 (Roche Biochemicals) is added to 100 μl of culture media without serum and equilibrated for 5 minutes at room temperature. Then, 2 μg of purified pcDNA/FPRL-1 receptor is added to the prediluted FuGene6 solution, gently mixed, and further incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes. The media is aspirated from the cells and 4 ml of fresh media is added to the cells. The FuGene6/DNA solution is added dropwise to the cells and distributed evenly by swirling of the media. After 48 hours the media is aspirated and replaced by Ham's F12 media, 10% FCS, 2 mM glutamine, 200 ng/ml hygromycin, 100 U/ml penicillin,100 μg/ml streptomycin, and 200 μg/ml G418. During the following five days the media is replaced daily until dead cells and debris is washed out until single colonies of cells are visible. Single colonies are isolated by separation with cloning cylinders and releasing them from the surface by addition of 100 μL of 1× trypsin/EDTA. Cells are transferred from the cloning cylinders to 4 ml of media and plated in 6 well-plates. Single clones are expanded and the expression of FPRL-1 receptor in several clones is tested via ligand binding assay (2.2.). The cell clone denoted CHO/Galpha16/FPRL-1 receptor, CHO/GalphaGqi5/FPRL-1 receptor, or CHOGalphaGqo5/FPRL-1 receptor with the highest expression of FPRL-1 receptor is used for measuring of intracytoplasmic Ca²⁺ via FLIPR (Molecular Devices).

[0094] Cells (CHO/Galpha16/FPRL-1 receptor, CHO/GalphaGqi5/FPRL-1 receptor, or CHOGalphaGqo5/FPRL-1 receptor) are seeded in 384-blackwell plates (Corning) with 2500-5,000 cells per well in a volume of 40 μl and grown overnight in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. As a negative control CHO/Galpha16, CHO/GalphaGqi5 or CHOGalphaGqo5 cells are used. Then, 40 μl of a Fluo-4 (Molecular Probes) staining solution is added to each well in order to label the cells with Fluo-4 at a final concentration of 2 μM. The Fluo-4 staining solution is composed of 10.5 ml cell culture media described above, 420 μl Probenicid solution (1.42 g Probenicid (Sigma), 10 ml 1 M NaOH, 10 ml Hanks buffer), 42 μl Fluo-4 stock solution (50 μg Fluo-4, 23 □l DMSO, 23 μl Pluronic F-127 (20% in DMSO) (Molecular Probes), and 420 μl 1M HEPES. After 45 minutes incubation in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. wells are washed with a EMBLA-washer (4 wash steps, program 03) using 2,000 ml Hanks buffer containing 20 ml Probenicid solution as a wash solution and leaving 25 μl wash buffer in each well. Then FLIPR is set to 10,000 counts for stained wells and a difference of 1:5 between unstained and stained wells. Then, 25 μl lipoxin A4 and a series of ligands, peptides, and low molecular weight compounds, including the peptide ligand MMK-1 is added to the wells in increasing concentrations (0.5-300 nM) diluted in Hanks' buffer/0.1% BSA. Substances according to the invention are tested in increasing concentrations (0.5-300 nM) to compete with lipoxin A4 (50 nM) in order to determine their antagonistic potential. Fluorescence is recorded starting with the addition of the ligand every second for 60 seconds and every 5 seconds for a further 60 seconds.

[0095] 2.4. Production and Release of Cytokines or Matrix Metalloproteases

[0096] Cells of monocytic/macrophage cell lines are treated with lipoxin A4 at cell densities between 2.5 and 5×10⁵ cells/ml. Cells are harvested after 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, the supernatant frozen for further investigation, cells are washed with PBS, and resuspended in 400 ml of RLT buffer (from Qiagen RNeasy Total RNA Isolation Kit) with 143 mM β-mercaptoethanol, the DNA sheared with a 20 g needle for at least 5 times and stored at 70° C. Total RNAs are isolated with the Qiagen RNeasy Total RNA Isolation Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Purified RNA is used for TaqMan analysis. The expression levels of cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6, and human matrix metalloproteases, MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-12, are measured using appropriate primer sequences.

[0097]2.4.1. Detection of Secreted Cytokines

[0098] Proteins in the supernatants of the cultured and stimulated cells are precipitated by adding TCA (tricholoracetic acid) to a final concentration of 10%. Precipitates are washed twice with 80% ethanol and pellets are resuspended in 50 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.4, 10 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EDTA. Protein concentration is determined via the Bradford method and 50 μg of each sample are loaded on 12% SDS polyacrylamide gels. Gels are blotted onto PVDF-membranes, blocked for 1 hour in 5% BSA in TBST, and incubated for 1 hour with commercially available antibodies against human TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α) IL-1β (interleukin-1β), IL-8 (interleukin 8), and IL-6 (interleukin 6). After washing with TBST blots are incubated with anti-human IgG conjugated to horseradish-peroxidase, washed again and developed with ECL chemiluminescence kit (Amersham). Intensity of the bands are visualised with BioMax X-ray films (Kodak) and quantified by densitometry.

[0099] 2.4.2. Detection and Activity of Secreted Matrix Metalloproteases

[0100] The procedure is identical to the one described in 2.4.1. Antibodies used for Western blotting are against human MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, and MMP-12.

[0101] Protease activity is determined with a fluorescent substrate. Supernatants isolated from stimulated and unstimulated cells (described above) are incubated in a total volume of 50 μl with 1 μM of the substrate (Dabcyl-Gaba-Pro-Gln-Gly-Leu-Glu (EDANS)-Ala-Lys-NH2 (Novabiochem)) for 5 minutes at room temperature. Positive controls are performed with 125 ng purified MMP-12 per reaction. Protease activity is determined by fluorometry with an excitation at 320 nm and an emission at 405 nm.

[0102] In an alternative assay to determine proteolytic activity and cell migration a chemotaxis chamber is used. In the wells of the upper part of the chamber cells (10⁵ cells per well) are plated on filters coated with an 8 μm layer of Matrigel (Becton Dickinson). In the lower compartment chemoattractants like lipoxin A4 (100 nM), MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein 1) (10 ng/ml) are added to the media. After five days filters are removed, cells on the undersurface that have traversed the Matrigel are fixed with methanol, stained with the Diff-Quik staining kit (Dade Behring) and counted in three high power fields (400×) by light microscopy.

[0103] 2.5. Chemotaxis Assay

[0104] In order to determine chemotaxis a 48 well chemotaxis (Boyden) chamber (Neuroprobe) is used. Cells are starved for 24 hours in RPMI media without FCS. Chemoattractants, (50 ng/ml IL-8, 10 ng/ml MCP-1, 10 nM lipoxin A4, 10 nM MMK-1 peptide (2.3.)) are diluted in RPMI media without FCS and 30 μl is placed in the wells of the lower compartment. The upper compartment is separated from the lower compartment by a polycarbonate filter (pore size 8 μm). 50 μl cell suspension (5×10⁴) are placed in the well of the upper compartment. The chamber is incubated for 5 hours at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂. Then the filter is removed, cells on the upper side are scraped off, cells on the downside are fixed for 5 minutes in methanol and stained with the Diff-Quik staining set (Dade Behring). Migrated cells are counted in three high-power fields (400×) by light microscopy.

[0105] 2.6. Adherence Assay

[0106] Cells are harvested, washed in PBS and resuspended (4×10⁶/ml) in PBS and 1 μM BCECF ((2-7-bis-(carboxethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl) ester, Calbiochem) and incubated for 20 minutes at 37° C. Cells are washed in PBS and resuspended (3.3×10⁶/ml) in PBS containing 0.1% BSA. 3×10⁵ cells (90 μl) are added to each well of a 96-well flat bottom plate coated with laminin (Becton Dickinson) and allowed to settle for 10 minutes. 10 μl of agonist (100 nM lipoxin A4 plus lipoxin A4 antagonist) are added and plates are incubated for 20 minutes at 37° C. Then, cells are washed with PBS containing 0.1% BSA and adherent cells are solubilized with 100 μl of 0.025 M NaOH and 0.1% SDS. Quantification is performed by fluorescence measurement.

[0107] 2.7. Phagocytosis

[0108] Cell suspensions (2.5×10⁴ cells/ml) are seeded in 6-well plates with 5 ml of U937 or THP-1 or in 24-well plates with 2 ml of MonoMac6 and incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ in the presence of agonists (100 nM lipoxin A4, 50 nM MMK-1 peptide (2.3.)) and low molecular weight compounds according to the invention in order to antagonize agonistic effects. 40 μl of a dispersed suspension of heat-inactivated Saccharomyces boulardii (20 yeast/cell) are added to each well. Cells are incubated for three more hours, washed twice with PBS and cytocentrifuged. The cytospin preparations are stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa and phagocytosed particles are counted by light microsopy.

Example 3

[0109] Cell Culture Model for Macrophages Isolated from COPD Patients

[0110] Analogous methods as described here in Example 3 for FPRL-1 receptor are also performed using receptors described in 1.5.

[0111] As a cell culture model for macrophages isolated from COPD patients we select the monocytic cell lines MonoMac6 and THP-1. In order to mimic a hyperactivated status of these cell lines, cells are treated with PMA. Cells are exposed to further stimuli that are to mimic a condition that is similar to the situation in COPD. These stimuli are exposure to smoke or to LPS.

[0112] Expression of FPRL-1 after Stimulation of MonoMac6 Cells with PMA, Smoke, and LPS

[0113] MonoMac6 cells are cultivated in 24-well plates in RPMI 1640 media, supplemented with 10% FCS (low endotoxin), 2 mM glutamine, 1× non-essential amino acids, 200 U/ml penicillin, 200 μg/ml streptomycin, and 5 ml OPI media supplement (Sigma). Cells are grown to a density of 600,000 cells per well (2 ml media) and stimulated with 10 nM PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) (Sigma), or 20 ng/ml LPS (lipopolysaccharides from Salmonella minnesota Re595) (Sigma). For smoke exposure, cells are incubated in media enriched with smoke for 10 minutes at 37° C., 5% CO₂ at a density of 1×10⁶ cells/ml. Enrichment of RPMI 1640 media with smoke is performed with the smoke of two cigarettes. The smoke of the cigarettes is pulled into a 50 ml syringe (about 20 volumes of a 50-ml syringe per cigarette) and then perfused into 100 ml of RPMI 1640 media without supplements. Afterwards, the pH of the smoke-enriched media is adjusted to 7.4 and the media is sterilized through a 0.2 μm filter before use. After the exposure with smoke cells are washed at least twice with RPMI 1640 in order to remove residual smoke particles. Then cells are seeded in 24-well plates with 400,000-600,000 cells per well filled with 2 ml of fresh RPMI 1640 media including the supplements mentioned above.

[0114] THP-1 cells are grown in 75 cm² flasks in RPMI 1640 Glutamax supplemented with 10% FCS (low endotoxin), 200 U/ml penicillin, 200 μg/ml streptomycin. Cells are treated with 10 nM PMA for 48 hours at 37° C., 5% CO₂ in order to differentiate the cells to a macrophage-like cell type. Then, media is replaced by new PMA-free cultivation media with the addition of 20 ng/ml LPS.

[0115] Both cell types are cultivated at 37° C., 5% CO₂ in a humidified atmosphere and cells are harvested at various time points in order to monitor time-dependent effects. Cells are spun down and washed with PBS, resuspended in 400 μl of RLT buffer (Qiagen RNeasy Total RNA Isolation Kit) with 143 mM β-mercaptoethanol, the DNA is sheared with a 20 g needle for at least 5 times and stored at −70° C.

[0116] Total RNAs are isolated with the Qiagen RNeasy Total RNA Isolation Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Purified RNA is digested with RNase-free DNase (Qiagen) and used for TaqMan analysis.

[0117] TaqMan Analysis

[0118] Taqman analysis is used to determine mRNA-levels for FPRL-1 in cell lines after treatment with and without various stimuli at different time points. Total RNA isolated from U937 cells that were treated for 3 days with 10 nM retinoic acid is used in order to optimize reaction conditions for determining the mRNA-levels of FPRL-1 and setting standard curves for FPRL-1 and GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) as a housekeeping gene. Quantification of FPRL-1 is done with the following primers: Forward primer (rhHM63 668FP, SEQ ID NO:22), Reverse primer (hHM63 525(+)RP, SEQ ID NO:23) and TaqMan probe (rhHM63 629(−)TP, SEQ ID NO:24) labeled with reporter dye FAM at the 5′ end and quencher dye TAMRA at the 3′ end. The mRNA-levels for GAPDH are determined with a predeveloped kit for GAPDH “TaqMan GAPDH Control Reagents” (P/N 402869) from PE Applied Biosystems. The GAPDH probe is labeled with JOE as the reporter dye and TAMRA as the quencher dye. RT-PCR reactions are performed with the “TaqMan EZ RT-PCR Core Reagents” (P/N N808-0236) kit from Perkin Elmer. Standard curves for FPRL-1 and GAPDH are performed with increasing concentrations of RNA from U937 cells treated with 1 μM retinoic acid ranging from 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 to 100 ng per assay. Reaction mixes contain 1× TaqMan EZ-buffer, 3 mM Mn(Oac)₂, 300 μM dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and 600 μM dUTP, 2.5 U rTth DNA polymerase, 0.25 U AmpErase UNG in a total volume of 25 μL. For analysis of FPRL-1 reaction mixes include 300 nM of rhHM63 668(−)FP and hHM63 525(+)RP and 100 nM of rhHM63 629(−)TP. The primer concentrations for determining GAPDH levels are 200 nM for each primer and 100 nM for the Taqman probe. In order to determine mRNA levels for FPRL-1 and GAPDH in human subjects and cell lines, 16 to 50 ng RNA per reaction are used. All samples are run in triplicate. The reactions are performed with “MicroAmp Optical 96-well reaction plates” sealed with “MicroAmp Optical Caps” (PE Applied Biosystems) in an ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection System (PE Applied Biosystems). The PCR conditions are 2 minutes at 50° C., 30 minutes at 60° C., 5 minutes at 95° C., followed by 40 cycles of 20 seconds at 94° C. and 1 minute at 59° C. Data analysis is done either by determining the mRNA levels for FPRL-1 and GAPDH according to the standard curves or by directly relating C_(T) values for FPRL-1 to C_(T) values for GAPDH. The latter procedure can be applied for these genes since the efficiencies for both reactions are in good agreement with each other (around 95%). TABLE 15 Expression of FPRL-1 in MonoMac6 cells after stimulation with 10 nM PMA t (h) ng FPRL-1 mRNA/ng GAPDH mRNA  0 0.00  1 0.00  3 0.00 12 0.00 24 0.00 48 0.43 72 0.01

[0119] TABLE 16 Expression of FPRL-1 in MonoMac6 cells after differentiation with 10 nM PMA and stimulation with 20 ng/ml LPS t (h) ng FPRL-1 mRNA/ng GAPDH mRNA  0 0.00  1 0.00  3 0.00 12 1.27 24 2.19 48 2.90 72 1.27

[0120] TABLE 17 Expression of FPRL-1 in MonoMac6 cells after differentiation with 10 nM PMA and stimulation with smoke t (h) Fold induction of FPRL-1  0 1.00  1 0.02  3 0.14  6 4.44 12 9.90 25 9.35 48 8.73

[0121] TABLE 18 Expression of FPRL-1 in THP-1 cells after differentiation with PMA and stimulation with LPS t (h) Fold induction of FPRL-1  0 1.00  1 0.23  3 1.81  9 15.77 24 0.82 48 1.59

[0122] In order to examine the effects of ligands for FPRL-1, MonoMac6 cells are seeded at a density of 250,000 cells/ml in 24-well plates (with 2 ml per well), grown for 24 hours at 37° C., 5% CO₂ in a humidified atmosphere before stimulation with 200 nM lipoxin A4 (Biomol), W-peptide (1 μM) (synthesized by Metabion, Martinsried), and LPS (Sigma) as a positive control. Cells are harvested at different time points, and total RNA is isolated as described above using the Qiagen RNeasy Total RNA Isolation Kit (Qiagen).

[0123] The sequence of the W-peptide (Baek et al. 1996, J. Biol. Chem 271, 8170-8175) is W-K-Y-M-V-m.

[0124] The RNA is used for Taqman analysis in order to monitor the expression of inflammatory markers like TNFα, IL-8, and MMP-12. TABLE 19 Expression of TNFα in MonoMac 6 cells after stimulation with lipoxin A4 and W-peptide Fold Induction Fold Induction t (h) Lipoxin A4 (200 nM) W-peptide (1 μM) 0 1.00 1.00 3 2.43 1.03

[0125] TABLE 20 Expression of IL-8 in MonoMac 6 cells after stimulation with lipoxin A4 and W-peptide Fold Induction Fold Induction t (h) Lipoxin A4 (200 nM) W-peptide (1 μM) 0 1.00 1.00 3 1.99 1.54

[0126] TABLE 21 Expression of MMP-12 in MonoMac 6 cells after stimulation with lipoxin A4 and W-peptide Fold Induction Fold Induction t (h) Lipoxin A4 (200 nM) W-peptide (1 μM) 0 1.00 1.00 3 1.42 1.51

[0127] Since an increased invasion of macrophages in peripheral airways of COPD patients can be observed, we tested the chemotactic ability of MonoMac6 cells which serve as a cell culture model for alveolar macrophages. Chemotaxis of MonoMac6 is determined by administering different ligands for FPRL-1.

[0128] MonoMac6 cells are treated with PMA for 24-30 hours in order to induce an activation state of the cells. Cells are harvested, washed twice with RPMI 1640 without supplements, and seeded at a density of 500,000 cells/well (24-well plate) in the presence of 10 nM PMA. After 24-30 hours cells are released from the substratum by repeated rinsing with a pipet, spun down, counted and adjusted to a density of 1×10⁶ cells/ml of RPMI 1640 media without supplements but in the presence of 10 nM PMA. Chemotaxis is performed in a 48-well chemotaxis chamber (Neuroprobe Inc.) and polycarbonate membranes with a pore size of 8 μm (Neuroprobe Inc.). The lower wells of the chamber are filled with 28 μl of different concentrations of lipoxin A4, W-peptide, MCP-1 as a positive control, and RPMI 1640 media without supplements (including 10 nM PMA) as a negative control. The lower wells are covered with the polycarbonate membrane and the upper compartments of the chamber are filled with 50 μl of the cell suspension (50,000 cells per well). After 4 hours of migration at 37° C., 5% CO₂ the cells on the upper part of the membrane are scraped off and the cells attached at the lower part of the membrane are stained with the Diff Quik Staining Set (Dade Behring) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Stained cells are counted in 6 to 8 high power fields at a magnification of 250× with a light microscope. The migration index represents the fold increase in the number of cells migrated in response to the chemoattractant over control medium. TABLE 22 Migration of MonoMac6 cells in resonse to lipoxin A4, W-peptide, and MCP-1 Stimulus Migration Index MCP-1 (20 ng/ml) 2.59 Lipoxin A4 (1 μM) 1.68 Lipoxin A4 (100 nM) 1.31 Lipoxin A4 (10 nM) 0.86 W-peptide (1 μM) 2.46 W-peptide (100 nM) 1.23 W-peptide (10 nM) 0.95

[0129] The above examples as well as a cell of each of the above cell culture models are used for determining whether a substance is an inhibitor or an activator of an ILM-receptor of the invention which is deregulated in a macrophage according to the invention by adding a substance to be tested and subsequent measuring of a respective above described effect.

1 24 1 1910 DNA Homo sapiens 1 gaaaaggagc ttagctgctg gtgctgctgg caagatggaa accaacttct ccactcctct 60 gaatgaatat gaagaagtgt cctatgagtc tgctggctac actgttctgc ggatcctccc 120 attggtggtg cttggggtca cctttgtcct cggggtcctg ggcaatgggc ttgtgatctg 180 ggtggctgga ttccggatga cacgcacagt caccaccatc tgttacctga acctggccct 240 ggctgacttt tctttcacgg ccacattacc attcctcatt gtctccatgg ccatgggaga 300 aaaatggcct tttggctggt tcctgtgtaa gttaattcac atcgtggtgg acatcaacct 360 ctttggaagt gtcttcttga ttggtttcat tgcactggac cgctgcattt gtgtcctgca 420 tccagtctgg gcccagaacc accgcactgt gagtctggcc atgaaggtga tcgtcggacc 480 ttggattctt gctctagtcc ttaccttgcc agttttcctc tttttgacta cagtaactat 540 tccaaatggg gacacatact gtactttcaa ctttgcatcc tggggtggca cccctgagga 600 gaggctgaag gtggccatta ccatgctgac agccagaggg attatccggt ttgtcattgg 660 ctttagcttg ccgatgtcca ttgttgccat ctgctatggg ctcattgcag ccaagatcca 720 caaaaagggc atgattaaat ccagccgtcc cttacgggtc ctcactgctg tggtggcttc 780 tttcttcatc tgttggtttc cctttcaact ggttgccctt ctgggcaccg tctggctcaa 840 agagatgttg ttctatggca agtacaaaat cattgacatc ctggttaacc caacgagctc 900 cctggccttc ttcaacagct gcctcaaccc catgctttac gtctttgtgg gccaagactt 960 ccgagagaga ctgatccact ccctgcccac cagtctggag agggccctgt ctgaggactc 1020 agccccaact aatgacacgg ctgccaattc tgcttcacct cctgcagaga ctgagttaca 1080 ggcaatgtga ggatggggtc agggatattt tgagttctgt tcatcctacc ctaatgccag 1140 ttccagcttc atctaccctt gagtcatatt gaggcattca aggatgcaca gctcaagtat 1200 ttattcagga aaaatgcttt tgtgtccctg atttggggct aagaaataga cagtcaggct 1260 actaaaatat tagtgttatt ttttgttttt tgacttctgc ctataccctg gggtaagtgg 1320 agttgggaaa tacaagaaga gaaagaccgg tggggatttg taagacttag atgagatagt 1380 gcataataag gggaagactt taaagtataa agtaaaatgt ttgctgtagg ttttttatag 1440 ctattaaaaa aaatcagatt atggaagttt tcttctattt ttagtttgct aagagttttc 1500 tgtttctttt tcttacatca tgagtggact ttgcatttta tcaaatgcat tttctacatg 1560 tattaagatg gtcatattat tcttcttctt ttatgtaaat cattataaat aatgttcatt 1620 aagttctgaa tgttaaacta ctcttgaatt cctggaataa accacactta gtcctgatgt 1680 actttaaata tttatatctc acaggagttg gttagaattt ctgtgtttat gtttatatac 1740 tgttatttca ctttttctac tatccttgct aagttttcat agaaaataag gaacaaagag 1800 aaacttgtaa tggtctctga aaaggaattg agaagtaatt cctctgattc tgttttctgg 1860 tgttatatct ttattaaata ttcagaaaaa ttcaccagtg aaaaaaaaaa 1910 2 351 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Glu Thr Asn Phe Ser Thr Pro Leu Asn Glu Tyr Glu Glu Val Ser 1 5 10 15 Tyr Glu Ser Ala Gly Tyr Thr Val Leu Arg Ile Leu Pro Leu Val Val 20 25 30 Leu Gly Val Thr Phe Val Leu Gly Val Leu Gly Asn Gly Leu Val Ile 35 40 45 Trp Val Ala Gly Phe Arg Met Thr Arg Thr Val Thr Thr Ile Cys Tyr 50 55 60 Leu Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Phe Ser Phe Thr Ala Thr Leu Pro Phe 65 70 75 80 Leu Ile Val Ser Met Ala Met Gly Glu Lys Trp Pro Phe Gly Trp Phe 85 90 95 Leu Cys Lys Leu Ile His Ile Val Val Asp Ile Asn Leu Phe Gly Ser 100 105 110 Val Phe Leu Ile Gly Phe Ile Ala Leu Asp Arg Cys Ile Cys Val Leu 115 120 125 His Pro Val Trp Ala Gln Asn His Arg Thr Val Ser Leu Ala Met Lys 130 135 140 Val Ile Val Gly Pro Trp Ile Leu Ala Leu Val Leu Thr Leu Pro Val 145 150 155 160 Phe Leu Phe Leu Thr Thr Val Thr Ile Pro Asn Gly Asp Thr Tyr Cys 165 170 175 Thr Phe Asn Phe Ala Ser Trp Gly Gly Thr Pro Glu Glu Arg Leu Lys 180 185 190 Val Ala Ile Thr Met Leu Thr Ala Arg Gly Ile Ile Arg Phe Val Ile 195 200 205 Gly Phe Ser Leu Pro Met Ser Ile Val Ala Ile Cys Tyr Gly Leu Ile 210 215 220 Ala Ala Lys Ile His Lys Lys Gly Met Ile Lys Ser Ser Arg Pro Leu 225 230 235 240 Arg Val Leu Thr Ala Val Val Ala Ser Phe Phe Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro 245 250 255 Phe Gln Leu Val Ala Leu Leu Gly Thr Val Trp Leu Lys Glu Met Leu 260 265 270 Phe Tyr Gly Lys Tyr Lys Ile Ile Asp Ile Leu Val Asn Pro Thr Ser 275 280 285 Ser Leu Ala Phe Phe Asn Ser Cys Leu Asn Pro Met Leu Tyr Val Phe 290 295 300 Val Gly Gln Asp Phe Arg Glu Arg Leu Ile His Ser Leu Pro Thr Ser 305 310 315 320 Leu Glu Arg Ala Leu Ser Glu Asp Ser Ala Pro Thr Asn Asp Thr Ala 325 330 335 Ala Asn Ser Ala Ser Pro Pro Ala Glu Thr Glu Leu Gln Ala Met 340 345 350 3 2433 DNA Homo sapiens 3 cagccgcggc ccatggagcc cgccggcccg gcccccggcc gcctcgggcc gctgctctgc 60 ctgctgctcg ccgcgtcctg cgcctggtca ggagtggcgg gtgaggagga gctgcaggtg 120 attcagcctg acaagtccgt atcagttgca gctggagagt cggccattct gcactgcact 180 gtgacctccc tgatccctgt ggggcccatc cagtggttca gaggagctgg accagcccgg 240 gaattaatct acaatcaaaa agaaggccac ttcccccggg taacaactgt ttcagagtcc 300 acaaagagag aaaacatgga cttttccatc agcatcagta acatcacccc agcagatgcc 360 ggcacctact actgtgtgaa gttccggaaa gggagccctg acacggagtt taagtctgga 420 gcaggcactg agctgtctgt gcgtgccaaa ccctctgccc ccgtggtatc gggccctgcg 480 gcgagggcca cacctcagca cacagtgagc ttcacctgcg agtcccacgg cttctcaccc 540 agagacatca ccctgaaatg gttcaaaaat gggaatgagc tctcagactt ccagaccaac 600 gtggaccccg taggagagag cgtgtcctac agcatccaca gcacagccaa ggtggtgctg 660 acccgcgagg acgttcactc tcaagtcatc tgcgaggtgg cccacgtcac cttgcagggg 720 gaccctcttc gtgggactgc caacttgtct gagaccatcc gagttccacc caccttggag 780 gttactcaac agcccgtgag ggcagagaac caggtgaatg tcacctgcca ggtgaggaag 840 ttctaccccc agagactaca gctgacctgg ttggagaatg gaaacgtgtc ccggacagaa 900 acggcctcaa ccgttacaga gaacaaggat ggtacctaca actggatgag ctggctcctg 960 gtgaatgtat ctgcccacag ggatgatgtg aagctcacct gccaggtgga gcatgacggg 1020 cagccagcgg tcagcaaaag ccatgacctg aaggtctcag cccacccgaa ggagcagggc 1080 tcaaataccg ccgctgagaa cactggatct aatgaacgga acatctatat tgtggtgggt 1140 gtggtgtgca ccttgctggt ggccctactg atggcggccc tctacctcgt ccgaatcaga 1200 cagaagaaag cccagggctc cacttcttct acaaggttgc atgagcccga gaagaatgcc 1260 agagaaataa cacaggacac aaatgatatc acatatgcag acctgaacct gcccaagggg 1320 aagaagcctg ctccccaggc tgcggagccc aacaaccaca cggagtatgc cagcattcag 1380 accagcccgc agcccgcgtc ggaggacacc ctcacctatg ctgacctgga catggtccac 1440 ctcaaccgga cccccaagca gccggccccc aagcctgagc cgtccttctc agagtacgcc 1500 agcgtccagg tcccgaggaa gtgaatggga ccgtggtttg ctctagcacc catctctacg 1560 cgctttcttg tcccacaggg agccgccgtg atgagcacag ccaacccagt tcccggaggg 1620 ctggggcggt gcaggctctg ggacccaggg gccagggtgg ctcttctctc cccacccctc 1680 cttggctctc cagcacttcc tgggcagcca cggccccctc ccccaacatt gccacacacc 1740 tggaggctga cgttgccaaa ccagccaggg aaccaacctg ggaagtggcc agaactgcct 1800 ggggtccaag aactcttgtg cctccgtcca tcaccatgtg ggttttgaag accctcgact 1860 gcctccccga tgctccgaag cctgatcttc cagggtgggg aggagaaaat cccacctccc 1920 ctgacctcca ccacctccac caccaccacc accaccacca ccaccactac caccaccacc 1980 caactggggc tagagtgggg aagatttccc ctttagatca aactgcccct tccatggaaa 2040 agctggaaaa aaactctgga acccatatcc aggcttggtg aggttgctgc caacagtcct 2100 ggcctccccc atccctaggc aaagagccat gagtcctgga ggaggagagg acccctccca 2160 aaggactgga agcaaaaccc tctgcttcct tgggtccctc caagactccc tggggcccaa 2220 ctgtgttgct ccacccggac ccatctctcc cttctagacc tgagcttgcc cctccagcta 2280 gcactaagca acatctcgct gtaagcgcct gtaaattact gtgaaatgtg aaacgtgcaa 2340 tcttgaaact gaggtgttag aaaacttgat ctgtggtgtt ttgttttgtt ttttttctta 2400 aaacaacagc aacgtgaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaa 2433 4 503 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Glu Pro Ala Gly Pro Ala Pro Gly Arg Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Ser Cys Ala Trp Ser Gly Val Ala Gly Glu Glu 20 25 30 Glu Leu Gln Val Ile Gln Pro Asp Lys Ser Val Ser Val Ala Ala Gly 35 40 45 Glu Ser Ala Ile Leu His Cys Thr Val Thr Ser Leu Ile Pro Val Gly 50 55 60 Pro Ile Gln Trp Phe Arg Gly Ala Gly Pro Ala Arg Glu Leu Ile Tyr 65 70 75 80 Asn Gln Lys Glu Gly His Phe Pro Arg Val Thr Thr Val Ser Glu Ser 85 90 95 Thr Lys Arg Glu Asn Met Asp Phe Ser Ile Ser Ile Ser Asn Ile Thr 100 105 110 Pro Ala Asp Ala Gly Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Val Lys Phe Arg Lys Gly Ser 115 120 125 Pro Asp Thr Glu Phe Lys Ser Gly Ala Gly Thr Glu Leu Ser Val Arg 130 135 140 Ala Lys Pro Ser Ala Pro Val Val Ser Gly Pro Ala Ala Arg Ala Thr 145 150 155 160 Pro Gln His Thr Val Ser Phe Thr Cys Glu Ser His Gly Phe Ser Pro 165 170 175 Arg Asp Ile Thr Leu Lys Trp Phe Lys Asn Gly Asn Glu Leu Ser Asp 180 185 190 Phe Gln Thr Asn Val Asp Pro Val Gly Glu Ser Val Ser Tyr Ser Ile 195 200 205 His Ser Thr Ala Lys Val Val Leu Thr Arg Glu Asp Val His Ser Gln 210 215 220 Val Ile Cys Glu Val Ala His Val Thr Leu Gln Gly Asp Pro Leu Arg 225 230 235 240 Gly Thr Ala Asn Leu Ser Glu Thr Ile Arg Val Pro Pro Thr Leu Glu 245 250 255 Val Thr Gln Gln Pro Val Arg Ala Glu Asn Gln Val Asn Val Thr Cys 260 265 270 Gln Val Arg Lys Phe Tyr Pro Gln Arg Leu Gln Leu Thr Trp Leu Glu 275 280 285 Asn Gly Asn Val Ser Arg Thr Glu Thr Ala Ser Thr Val Thr Glu Asn 290 295 300 Lys Asp Gly Thr Tyr Asn Trp Met Ser Trp Leu Leu Val Asn Val Ser 305 310 315 320 Ala His Arg Asp Asp Val Lys Leu Thr Cys Gln Val Glu His Asp Gly 325 330 335 Gln Pro Ala Val Ser Lys Ser His Asp Leu Lys Val Ser Ala His Pro 340 345 350 Lys Glu Gln Gly Ser Asn Thr Ala Ala Glu Asn Thr Gly Ser Asn Glu 355 360 365 Arg Asn Ile Tyr Ile Val Val Gly Val Val Cys Thr Leu Leu Val Ala 370 375 380 Leu Leu Met Ala Ala Leu Tyr Leu Val Arg Ile Arg Gln Lys Lys Ala 385 390 395 400 Gln Gly Ser Thr Ser Ser Thr Arg Leu His Glu Pro Glu Lys Asn Ala 405 410 415 Arg Glu Ile Thr Gln Asp Thr Asn Asp Ile Thr Tyr Ala Asp Leu Asn 420 425 430 Leu Pro Lys Gly Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Ala Glu Pro Asn Asn 435 440 445 His Thr Glu Tyr Ala Ser Ile Gln Thr Ser Pro Gln Pro Ala Ser Glu 450 455 460 Asp Thr Leu Thr Tyr Ala Asp Leu Asp Met Val His Leu Asn Arg Thr 465 470 475 480 Pro Lys Gln Pro Ala Pro Lys Pro Glu Pro Ser Phe Ser Glu Tyr Ala 485 490 495 Ser Val Gln Val Pro Arg Lys 500 5 759 DNA Homo sapiens 5 ctgtgctgta aaaacaagag taacattttt atattaaagt taaataaagt tacaactttg 60 aagagagttt ctgcaagaca tgacacaaag ctgctagcag aaaatcaaaa cgctgattaa 120 aagaagcacg gtatgatgac caaacataaa aagtgtttta taattgttgg tgttttaata 180 acaactaata ttattactct gatagttaaa ctaactcgag attctcagag tttatgcccc 240 tatgattgga ttggtttcca aaacaaatgc tattatttct ctaaagaaga aggagattgg 300 aattcaagta aatacaactg ttccactcaa catgccgacc taactataat tgacaacata 360 gaagaaatga attttcttag gcggtataaa tgcagttctg atcactggat tggactgaag 420 atggcaaaaa atcgaacagg acaatgggta catggagcta catttaccaa atcgtttggc 480 atgagaggga gtgaaggatg tgcctacctc agcgatgatg gtgcagcaac agctagatgt 540 tacaccgaaa gaaaatggat ttgcaggaaa agaatacact aagttaatgt ctaagataat 600 ggggaaaata gaaaataaca ttattaagtg taaaaccagc aaagtacttt tttaattaaa 660 caaagttcga gttttgtacc tgtctggtta attctgctta cgtgtcaggc tacacataaa 720 agccacttca aagattggca aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 759 6 149 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Met Met Thr Lys His Lys Lys Cys Phe Ile Ile Val Gly Val Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Thr Thr Asn Ile Ile Thr Leu Ile Val Lys Leu Thr Arg Asp Ser Gln 20 25 30 Ser Leu Cys Pro Tyr Asp Trp Ile Gly Phe Gln Asn Lys Cys Tyr Tyr 35 40 45 Phe Ser Lys Glu Glu Gly Asp Trp Asn Ser Ser Lys Tyr Asn Cys Ser 50 55 60 Thr Gln His Ala Asp Leu Thr Ile Ile Asp Asn Ile Glu Glu Met Asn 65 70 75 80 Phe Leu Arg Arg Tyr Lys Cys Ser Ser Asp His Trp Ile Gly Leu Lys 85 90 95 Met Ala Lys Asn Arg Thr Gly Gln Trp Val His Gly Ala Thr Phe Thr 100 105 110 Lys Ser Phe Gly Met Arg Gly Ser Glu Gly Cys Ala Tyr Leu Ser Asp 115 120 125 Asp Gly Ala Ala Thr Ala Arg Cys Tyr Thr Glu Arg Lys Trp Ile Cys 130 135 140 Arg Lys Arg Ile His 145 7 1086 DNA Homo sapiens 7 ctaaaggtcc cctccccgga gcggagcgca cctagggtcc ctcttccgtc cccccagccc 60 agctacccgt tcagaccagc agcctcgggg ggcacccccc gccagcctgc ctccctcccg 120 ctcagccctg ccagggttcc ccagccatga atctcttccg attcctggga gacctctccc 180 acctcctcgc catcatcttg ctactgctca aaatctggaa gtcccgctcg tgcgccggaa 240 tttcagggaa gagccaggtc ctgtttgctg tggtgttcac tgcccgatat ctggacctct 300 tcaccaacta catctcactc tacaacacgt gtatgaaggt ggtctacata gcctgctcct 360 tcaccacggt ctggttgatt tatagcaagt tcaaagctac ttacgatggg aaccatgaca 420 cgttcagagt ggagttcctg gtcgttccca cagccattct ggcgttcctg gtcaatcatg 480 acttcacccc tctggagatc ctctggacct tctccatcta cctggagtca gtggccatct 540 tgccgcagct gttcatggtg agcaagaccg gcgaggcgga gaccatcacc agccactact 600 tgtttgcgct aggcgtttac cgcacgctct atctcttcaa ctggatctgg cgctaccatt 660 tcgagggctt cttcgacctc atcgccattg tggcaggcct ggtccagaca gtcctctact 720 gcgatttctt ctacctctat atcaccaaag tcctaaaggg gaagaagttg agtttgccgg 780 catagccccg gtcctctcca tctctctcct cggcagcagc gggaggcaga ggaaggcggc 840 agaagatgaa gagctttccc atccaggggt gactttttta agaacccacc tcttgtgctc 900 cccatcccgc ctcctgccgg gtttcagggg gacagtggag gatccaggtc ttggggagct 960 caggacttgg gctgtttgta gttttttgcc ttttagacaa gaaaaaaaaa tctttccact 1020 ctttagtttt tgattctgat gactcgtttt ttcttctact ctgtggcccc aaattttata 1080 aagtga 1086 8 212 PRT Homo sapiens 8 Met Asn Leu Phe Arg Phe Leu Gly Asp Leu Ser His Leu Leu Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Lys Ile Trp Lys Ser Arg Ser Cys Ala Gly Ile 20 25 30 Ser Gly Lys Ser Gln Val Leu Phe Ala Val Val Phe Thr Ala Arg Tyr 35 40 45 Leu Asp Leu Phe Thr Asn Tyr Ile Ser Leu Tyr Asn Thr Cys Met Lys 50 55 60 Val Val Tyr Ile Ala Cys Ser Phe Thr Thr Val Trp Leu Ile Tyr Ser 65 70 75 80 Lys Phe Lys Ala Thr Tyr Asp Gly Asn His Asp Thr Phe Arg Val Glu 85 90 95 Phe Leu Val Ile Pro Thr Ala Ile Leu Ala Phe Leu Val Asn His Asp 100 105 110 Phe Thr Pro Leu Glu Ile Leu Trp Thr Phe Ser Ile Tyr Leu Glu Ser 115 120 125 Val Ala Ile Leu Pro Gln Leu Phe Met Val Ser Lys Thr Gly Glu Ala 130 135 140 Glu Thr Ile Thr Ser His Tyr Leu Phe Ala Leu Gly Val Tyr Arg Thr 145 150 155 160 Leu Tyr Leu Phe Asn Trp Ile Trp Arg Tyr His Phe Glu Gly Phe Phe 165 170 175 Asp Leu Ile Ala Ile Val Ala Gly Leu Val Gln Thr Val Leu Tyr Cys 180 185 190 Asp Phe Phe Tyr Leu Tyr Ile Thr Lys Val Leu Lys Gly Lys Lys Leu 195 200 205 Ser Leu Pro Ala 210 9 3992 DNA Homo sapiens 9 ggcttcagga agggcagaca gagtgtccaa aagcgtgaga gcacgaagtg aggagaaggt 60 ggagaagaga gaagaggaag aggaagagga agagaggaag cggagggaac tgcggccagg 120 ctaaaagggg aagaagagga tcagcccaag gaggaggaag aggaaaacaa gacaaacagc 180 cagtgcagag gagaggaacg tgtgtccagt gtcccgatcc ctgcggagct agtagctgag 240 agctctgtgc cctgggcacc ttgcagccct gcacctgcct gccacttccc caccgaggcc 300 atgggcccag gagttctgct gctcctgctg gtggccacag cttggcatgg tcagggaatc 360 ccagtgatag agcccagtgt ccccgagctg gtcgtgaagc caggagcaac ggtgaccttg 420 cgatgtgtgg gcaatggcag cgtggaatgg gatggccccg catcacctca ctggaccctg 480 tactctgatg gctccagcag catcctcagc accaacaacg ctaccttcca aaacacgggg 540 acctatcgct gcactgagcc tggagacccc ctgggaggca gcgccgccat ccacctctat 600 gtcaaagacc ctgcccggcc ctggaacgtg ctagcacagg aggtggtcgt gttcgaggac 660 caggacgcac tactgccctg tctgctcaca gacccggtgc tggaagcagg cgtctcgctg 720 gtgcgtgtgc gtggccggcc cctcatgcgc cacaccaact actccttctc gccctggcat 780 ggcttcacca tccacagggc caagttcatt cagagccagg actatcaatg cagtgccctg 840 atgggtggca ggaaggtgat gtccatcagc atccggctga aagtgcagaa agtcatccca 900 gggcccccag ccttgacact ggtgcctgca gagctggtgc ggattcgagg ggaggctgcc 960 cagatcgtgt gctcagccag cagcgttgat gttaactttg atgtcttcct ccaacacaac 1020 aacactaagc tcgcaatccc tcaacaatct gactttcata ataaccgtta ccaaaaagtc 1080 ctgaccctca acctcgatca agtagatttc caacatgccg gcaactactc ctgcgtggcc 1140 agcaacgtgc agggcaagca ctccacctcc atgttcttcc gggtggtaga gagtgcctac 1200 ttgaacttga gctctgagca gaacctcatc caggaggtga ccgtggggga ggggctcaac 1260 ctcaaagtca tggtggaggc ctacccaggc ctgcaaggtt ttaactggac ctacctggga 1320 cccttttctg accaccagcc tgagcccaag cttgctaatg ctaccaccaa ggacacatac 1380 aggcacacct tcaccctctc tctgccccgc ctgaagccct ctgaggctgg ccgctactcc 1440 ttcctggcca gaaacccagg aggctggaga gctctgacgt ttgagctcac ccttcgatac 1500 cccccagagg taagcgtcat atggacattc atcaacggct ctggcaccct tttgtgtgct 1560 gcctctgggt acccccagcc caacgtgaca tggctgcagt gcagtggcca cactgatagg 1620 tgtgatgagg cccaagtgct gcaggtctgg gatgacccat accctgaggt cctgagccag 1680 gagcccttcc acaaggtgac ggtgcagagc ctgctgactg ttgagacctt agagcacaac 1740 caaacctacg agtgcagggc ccacaacagc gtggggagtg gctcctgggc cttcataccc 1800 atctctgcag gagcccacac gcatcccccg gatgagttcc tcttcacacc agtggtggtc 1860 gcctgcatgt ccatcatggc cttgctgctg ctgctgctcc tgctgctatt gtacaagtat 1920 aagcagaagc ccaagtacca ggtccgctgg aagatcatcg agagctatga gggcaacagt 1980 tatactttca tcgaccccac gcagctgcct tacaacgaga agtgggagtt cccccggaac 2040 aacctgcagt ttggtaagac cctcggagct ggagcctttg ggaaggtggt ggaggccacg 2100 gcctttggtc tgggcaagga ggatgctgtc ctgaaggtgg ctgtgaagat gctgaagtcc 2160 acggcccatg ctgatgagaa ggaggccctc atgtccgagc tgaagatcat gagccacctg 2220 ggccagcacg agaacatcgt caaccttctg ggagcctgta cccatggagg ccctgtactg 2280 gtcatcacgg agtactgttg ctatggcgac ctgctcaact ttctgcgaag gaaggctgag 2340 gccatgctgg gacccagcct gagccccggc caggaccccg agggaggcgt cgactataag 2400 aacatccacc tcgagaagaa atatgtccgc agggacagtg gcttctccag ccagggtgtg 2460 gacacctatg tggagatgag gcctgtctcc acttcttcaa atgactcctt ctctgagcaa 2520 gacctggaca aggaggatgg acggcccctg gagctccggg acctgcttca cttctccagc 2580 caagtagccc agggcatggc cttcctcgct tccaagaatt gcatccaccg ggacgtggca 2640 gcgcgtaacg tgctgttgac caatggtcat gtggccaaga ttggggactt cgggctggct 2700 agggacatca tgaatgactc caactacatt gtcaagggca atgcccgcct gcctgtgaag 2760 tggatggccc cagagagcat ctttgactgt gtctacacgg ttcagagcga cgtctggtcc 2820 tatggcatcc tcctctggga gatcttctca cttgggctga atccctaccc tggcatcctg 2880 gtgaacagca agttctataa actggtgaag gatggatacc aaatggccca gcctgcattt 2940 gccccaaaga atatatacag catcatgcag gcctgctggg ccttggagcc cacccacaga 3000 cccaccttcc agcagatctg ctccttcctt caggagcagg cccaagagga caggagagag 3060 cgggactata ccaatctgcc gagcagcagc agaagcggtg gcagcggcag cagcagcagt 3120 gagctggagg aggagagctc tagtgagcac ctgacctgct gcgagcaagg ggatatcgcc 3180 cagcccttgc tgcagcccaa caactatcag ttctgctgag gagttgacga cagggagtac 3240 cactctcccc tcctccaaac ttcaactcct ccatggatgg ggcgacacgg ggagaacata 3300 caaactctgc cttcggtcat ttcactcaac agctcggccc agctctgaaa cttgggaagg 3360 tgagggattc aggggaggtc agaggatccc acttcctgag catgggccat cactgccagt 3420 caggggctgg gggctgagcc ctcacccccc gcctccccta ctgttctcat ggtgttggcc 3480 tcgtgtttgc tatgccaact agtagaacct tctttcctaa tccccttatc ttcatggaaa 3540 tggactgact ttatgcctat gaagtcccca ggagctacac tgatactgag aaaaccaggc 3600 tctttggggc tagacagact ggcagagagt gagatctccc tctctgagag gagcagcaga 3660 tgctcacaga ccacactcag ctcaggcccc ttggagcagg atggctcctc taagaatctc 3720 acaggacctc ttagtctctg ccctatacgc cgccttcact ccacagcctc acccctccca 3780 cccccatact ggtactgctg taatgagcca agtggcagct aaaagttggg ggtgttctgc 3840 ccagtcccgt cattctgggc tagaaggcag gggaccttgg cattggctgg ccacaccaag 3900 caggaagcac aaactccccc aagctgactc atcctaacta acagtcacgc cgtgggatgt 3960 ctctgtccac attaaactaa cagcattaat gc 3992 10 972 PRT Homo sapiens 10 Met Gly Pro Gly Val Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Val Ala Thr Ala Trp His 1 5 10 15 Gly Gln Gly Ile Pro Val Ile Glu Pro Ser Val Pro Glu Leu Val Val 20 25 30 Lys Pro Gly Ala Thr Val Thr Leu Arg Cys Val Gly Asn Gly Ser Val 35 40 45 Glu Trp Asp Gly Pro Pro Ser Pro His Trp Thr Leu Tyr Ser Asp Gly 50 55 60 Ser Ser Ser Ile Leu Ser Thr Asn Asn Ala Thr Phe Gln Asn Thr Gly 65 70 75 80 Thr Tyr Arg Cys Thr Glu Pro Gly Asp Pro Leu Gly Gly Ser Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ile His Leu Tyr Val Lys Asp Pro Ala Arg Pro Trp Asn Val Leu Ala 100 105 110 Gln Glu Val Val Val Phe Glu Asp Gln Asp Ala Leu Leu Pro Cys Leu 115 120 125 Leu Thr Asp Pro Val Leu Glu Ala Gly Val Ser Leu Val Arg Val Arg 130 135 140 Gly Arg Pro Leu Met Arg His Thr Asn Tyr Ser Phe Ser Pro Trp His 145 150 155 160 Gly Phe Thr Ile His Arg Ala Lys Phe Ile Gln Ser Gln Asp Tyr Gln 165 170 175 Cys Ser Ala Leu Met Gly Gly Arg Lys Val Met Ser Ile Ser Ile Arg 180 185 190 Leu Lys Val Gln Lys Val Ile Pro Gly Pro Pro Ala Leu Thr Leu Val 195 200 205 Pro Ala Glu Leu Val Arg Ile Arg Gly Glu Ala Ala Gln Ile Val Cys 210 215 220 Ser Ala Ser Ser Val Asp Val Asn Phe Asp Val Phe Leu Gln His Asn 225 230 235 240 Asn Thr Lys Leu Ala Ile Pro Gln Gln Ser Asp Phe His Asn Asn Arg 245 250 255 Tyr Gln Lys Val Leu Thr Leu Asn Leu Asp Gln Val Asp Phe Gln His 260 265 270 Ala Gly Asn Tyr Ser Cys Val Ala Ser Asn Val Gln Gly Lys His Ser 275 280 285 Thr Ser Met Phe Phe Arg Val Val Glu Ser Ala Tyr Leu Asn Leu Ser 290 295 300 Ser Glu Gln Asn Leu Ile Gln Glu Val Thr Val Gly Glu Gly Leu Asn 305 310 315 320 Leu Lys Val Met Val Glu Ala Tyr Pro Gly Leu Gln Gly Phe Asn Trp 325 330 335 Thr Tyr Leu Gly Pro Phe Ser Asp His Gln Pro Glu Pro Lys Leu Ala 340 345 350 Asn Ala Thr Thr Lys Asp Thr Tyr Arg His Thr Phe Thr Leu Ser Leu 355 360 365 Pro Arg Leu Lys Pro Ser Glu Ala Gly Arg Tyr Ser Phe Leu Ala Arg 370 375 380 Asn Pro Gly Gly Trp Arg Ala Leu Thr Phe Glu Leu Thr Leu Arg Tyr 385 390 395 400 Pro Pro Glu Val Ser Val Ile Trp Thr Phe Ile Asn Gly Ser Gly Thr 405 410 415 Leu Leu Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Pro Asn Val Thr Trp Leu 420 425 430 Gln Cys Ser Gly His Thr Asp Arg Cys Asp Glu Ala Gln Val Leu Gln 435 440 445 Val Trp Asp Asp Pro Tyr Pro Glu Val Leu Ser Gln Glu Pro Phe His 450 455 460 Lys Val Thr Val Gln Ser Leu Leu Thr Val Glu Thr Leu Glu His Asn 465 470 475 480 Gln Thr Tyr Glu Cys Arg Ala His Asn Ser Val Gly Ser Gly Ser Trp 485 490 495 Ala Phe Ile Pro Ile Ser Ala Gly Ala His Thr His Pro Pro Asp Glu 500 505 510 Phe Leu Phe Thr Pro Val Val Val Ala Cys Met Ser Ile Met Ala Leu 515 520 525 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Gln Lys Pro 530 535 540 Lys Tyr Gln Val Arg Trp Lys Ile Ile Glu Ser Tyr Glu Gly Asn Ser 545 550 555 560 Tyr Thr Phe Ile Asp Pro Thr Gln Leu Pro Tyr Asn Glu Lys Trp Glu 565 570 575 Phe Pro Arg Asn Asn Leu Gln Phe Gly Lys Thr Leu Gly Ala Gly Ala 580 585 590 Phe Gly Lys Val Val Glu Ala Thr Ala Phe Gly Leu Gly Lys Glu Asp 595 600 605 Ala Val Leu Lys Val Ala Val Lys Met Leu Lys Ser Thr Ala His Ala 610 615 620 Asp Glu Lys Glu Ala Leu Met Ser Glu Leu Lys Ile Met Ser His Leu 625 630 635 640 Gly Gln His Glu Asn Ile Val Asn Leu Leu Gly Ala Cys Thr His Gly 645 650 655 Gly Pro Val Leu Val Ile Thr Glu Tyr Cys Cys Tyr Gly Asp Leu Leu 660 665 670 Asn Phe Leu Arg Arg Lys Ala Glu Ala Met Leu Gly Pro Ser Leu Ser 675 680 685 Pro Gly Gln Asp Pro Glu Gly Gly Val Asp Tyr Lys Asn Ile His Leu 690 695 700 Glu Lys Lys Tyr Val Arg Arg Asp Ser Gly Phe Ser Ser Gln Gly Val 705 710 715 720 Asp Thr Tyr Val Glu Met Arg Pro Val Ser Thr Ser Ser Asn Asp Ser 725 730 735 Phe Ser Glu Gln Asp Leu Asp Lys Glu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Glu Leu 740 745 750 Arg Asp Leu Leu His Phe Ser Ser Gln Val Ala Gln Gly Met Ala Phe 755 760 765 Leu Ala Ser Lys Asn Cys Ile His Arg Asp Val Ala Ala Arg Asn Val 770 775 780 Leu Leu Thr Asn Gly His Val Ala Lys Ile Gly Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala 785 790 795 800 Arg Asp Ile Met Asn Asp Ser Asn Tyr Ile Val Lys Gly Asn Ala Arg 805 810 815 Leu Pro Val Lys Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Ser Ile Phe Asp Cys Val Tyr 820 825 830 Thr Val Gln Ser Asp Val Trp Ser Tyr Gly Ile Leu Leu Trp Glu Ile 835 840 845 Phe Ser Leu Gly Leu Asn Pro Tyr Pro Gly Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Lys 850 855 860 Phe Tyr Lys Leu Val Lys Asp Gly Tyr Gln Met Ala Gln Pro Ala Phe 865 870 875 880 Ala Pro Lys Asn Ile Tyr Ser Ile Met Gln Ala Cys Trp Ala Leu Glu 885 890 895 Pro Thr His Arg Pro Thr Phe Gln Gln Ile Cys Ser Phe Leu Gln Glu 900 905 910 Gln Ala Gln Glu Asp Arg Arg Glu Arg Asp Tyr Thr Asn Leu Pro Ser 915 920 925 Ser Ser Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser Ser Glu Leu Glu Glu 930 935 940 Glu Ser Ser Ser Glu His Leu Thr Cys Cys Glu Gln Gly Asp Ile Ala 945 950 955 960 Gln Pro Leu Leu Gln Pro Asn Asn Tyr Gln Phe Cys 965 970 11 1696 DNA Homo sapiens 11 ccgagtgtcc acaccctgtg cgtctctctg tcctgccagc actgagggct catccatccg 60 cagagcaggg cagtgggagg agacgccatg acccccatcc tcacggtcct gatctgtctc 120 gggctgagtc tgggccccag gacccacgtg caggcagggc acctccccaa gcccaccctc 180 tgggctgagc caggctctgt gatcatccag ggaagtcctg tgaccctcag gtgtcagggg 240 agccttcagg ctgaggagta ccatctatat agggaaaaca aatcagcatc ctgggttaga 300 cggatacaag agcctgggaa gaatggccag ttccccatcc catccatcac ctgggaacac 360 gcagggcggt atcactgtca gtactacagc cacaatcact catcagagta cagtgacccc 420 ctggagctgg tggtgacagg agcctacagc aaacccaccc tctcagctct gcccagccct 480 gtggtgacct taggagggaa cgtgaccctc cagtgtgtct cacaggtggc atttgacggc 540 ttcattctgt gtaaggaagg agaagatgaa cacccacaac gcctgaactc ccattcccat 600 gcccgtgggt ggtcctgggc catcttctcc gtgggccccg tgagcccgag tcgcaggtgg 660 tcgtacaggt gctatgctta tgactcgaac tctccctatg tgtggtctct acccagtgat 720 ctcctggagc tcctggtccc aggtgtttct aagaagccat cactctcagt gcagccaggt 780 cctatggtgg cccctgggga gagcctgacc ctccagtgtg tctctgatgt cggctacgac 840 agatttgttc tgtataagga gggagaacgt gacttcctcc agcgccctgg ttggcagccc 900 caggctgggc tctcccaggc caacttcacc ctgggccctg tgagcccctc ccacgggggc 960 cagtacagat gctacagtgc acacaacctc tcctccgagt ggtcggcccc cagtgacccc 1020 ctggacatcc tgatcacagg acagttctat gacagaccct ctctctcggt gcagccggtc 1080 cccacagtag ccccaggaaa gaacgtgacc ctgctgtgtc agtcacgggg gcagttccac 1140 actttccttc tgaccaagga gggggcaggc catcccccac tgcatctgag atcagagcac 1200 caagctcagc agaaccaggc tgaattccgc atgggtcctg tgacctcagc ccacgtgggg 1260 acctacagat gctacagctc actcagctcc aacccctacc tgctgtctct ccccagtgac 1320 cccctggagc tcgtggtctc agcatcccta ggccaacacc cccaggatta cacagtggag 1380 aatctcatcc gcatgggtgt ggctggcttg gtcctggtgg tcctcgggat tctgctattt 1440 gaggctcagc acagccagag aagcctacaa gatgcagccg ggaggtgaac agcagagagg 1500 acaatgcata cttcagcgtg gtggagcctc agggacagat ctgatgatcc caggaggctc 1560 tggaggacaa tctaggacct acattatctg gactgtatgc tggtcatttc tagagacagc 1620 aatcaatatt tgagtgtaag gaaactgtct ggggtgattc ctagaagatc attaaactgt 1680 ggtacatttt tttgtc 1696 12 466 PRT Homo sapiens 12 Met Thr Pro Ile Leu Thr Val Leu Ile Cys Leu Gly Leu Ser Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg Thr His Val Gln Ala Gly His Leu Pro Lys Pro Thr Leu Trp 20 25 30 Ala Glu Pro Gly Ser Val Ile Ile Gln Gly Ser Pro Val Thr Leu Arg 35 40 45 Cys Gln Gly Ser Leu Gln Ala Glu Glu Tyr His Leu Tyr Arg Glu Asn 50 55 60 Lys Ser Ala Ser Trp Val Arg Arg Ile Gln Glu Pro Gly Lys Asn Gly 65 70 75 80 Gln Phe Pro Ile Pro Ser Ile Thr Trp Glu His Ala Gly Arg Tyr His 85 90 95 Cys Gln Tyr Tyr Ser His Asn His Ser Ser Glu Tyr Ser Asp Pro Leu 100 105 110 Glu Leu Val Val Thr Gly Ala Tyr Ser Lys Pro Thr Leu Ser Ala Leu 115 120 125 Pro Ser Pro Val Val Thr Leu Gly Gly Asn Val Thr Leu Gln Cys Val 130 135 140 Ser Gln Val Ala Phe Asp Gly Phe Ile Leu Cys Lys Glu Gly Glu Asp 145 150 155 160 Glu His Pro Gln Arg Leu Asn Ser His Ser His Ala Arg Gly Trp Ser 165 170 175 Trp Ala Ile Phe Ser Val Gly Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Arg Arg Trp Ser 180 185 190 Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Ala Tyr Asp Ser Asn Ser Pro Tyr Val Trp Ser Leu 195 200 205 Pro Ser Asp Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Pro Gly Val Ser Lys Lys Pro 210 215 220 Ser Leu Ser Val Gln Pro Gly Pro Met Val Ala Pro Gly Glu Ser Leu 225 230 235 240 Thr Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Asp Val Gly Tyr Asp Arg Phe Val Leu Tyr 245 250 255 Lys Glu Gly Glu Arg Asp Phe Leu Gln Arg Pro Gly Trp Gln Pro Gln 260 265 270 Ala Gly Leu Ser Gln Ala Asn Phe Thr Leu Gly Pro Val Ser Pro Ser 275 280 285 His Gly Gly Gln Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Ser Ala His Asn Leu Ser Ser Glu 290 295 300 Trp Ser Ala Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Asp Ile Leu Ile Thr Gly Gln Phe 305 310 315 320 Tyr Asp Arg Pro Ser Leu Ser Val Gln Pro Val Pro Thr Val Ala Pro 325 330 335 Gly Lys Asn Val Thr Leu Leu Cys Gln Ser Arg Gly Gln Phe His Thr 340 345 350 Phe Leu Leu Thr Lys Glu Gly Ala Gly His Pro Pro Leu His Leu Arg 355 360 365 Ser Glu His Gln Ala Gln Gln Asn Gln Ala Glu Phe Arg Met Gly Pro 370 375 380 Val Thr Ser Ala His Val Gly Thr Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Ser Ser Leu Ser 385 390 395 400 Ser Asn Pro Tyr Leu Leu Ser Leu Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Glu Leu Val 405 410 415 Val Ser Ala Ser Leu Gly Gln His Pro Gln Asp Tyr Thr Val Glu Asn 420 425 430 Leu Ile Arg Met Gly Val Ala Gly Leu Val Leu Val Val Leu Gly Ile 435 440 445 Leu Leu Phe Glu Ala Gln His Ser Gln Arg Ser Leu Gln Asp Ala Ala 450 455 460 Gly Arg 465 13 63 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 13 ggccagtgaa ttgtaatacg actcactata gggaggcggt tttttttttt tttttttttt 60 ttt 63 14 25 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 14 gtcgtcaaga tgctaccgtt cagga 25 15 48 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 15 ggggacaagt ttgtacaaaa aagcaggcta tggaaaccaa cttctcca 48 16 53 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 16 ggggaccact ttgtacaaga aagctgggtt cacattgcct gtaactcagt ctc 53 17 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 17 agcccatagc agatggcaac 20 18 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 18 tgtactttca actttgcatc ctgg 24 19 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 19 aagccaatga caaaccggat aatccctc 28 20 2051 DNA Homo sapiens 20 cgccactttg ctggagcatt cactaggcga ggcgctccat cggactcact agccgcactc 60 atgaatcggc accatctgca ggatcacttt ctggaaatag acaagaagaa ctgctgtgtg 120 ttccgagatg acttcattgc caaggtgttg ccgccggtgt tggggctgga gtttatcttt 180 gggcttctgg gcaatggcct tgccctgtgg attttctgtt tccacctcaa gtcctggaaa 240 tccagccgga ttttcctgtt caacctggca gtagctgact ttctactgat catctgcctg 300 ccgttcgtga tggactacta tgtgcggcgt tcagactgga actttgggga catcccttgc 360 cggctggtgc tcttcatgtt tgccatgaac cgccagggca gcatcatctt cctcacggtg 420 gtggcggtag acaggtattt ccgggtggtc catccccacc acgccctgaa caagatctcc 480 aattggacag cagccatcat ctcttgcctt ctgtggggca tcactgttgg cctaacagtc 540 cacctcctga agaagaagtt gctgatccag aatggccctg caaatgtgtg catcagcttc 600 agcatctgcc ataccttccg gtggcacgaa gctatgttcc tcctggagtt cctcctgccc 660 ctgggcatca tcctgttctg ctcagccaga attatctgga gcctgcggca gagacaaatg 720 gaccggcatg ccaagatcaa gagagccatc accttcatca tggtggtggc catcgtcttt 780 gtcatctgct tccttcccag cgtggttgtg cggatccgca tcttctggct cctgcacact 840 tcgggcacgc agaattgtga agtgtaccgc tcggtggacc tggcgttctt tatcactctc 900 agcttcacct acatgaacag catgctggac cccgtggtgt actacttctc cagcccatcc 960 tttcccaact tcttctccac tttgatcaac cgctgcctcc agaggaagat gacaggtgag 1020 ccagataata accgcagcac gagcgtcgag ctcacagggg accccaacaa aaccagaggc 1080 gctccagagg cgttaatggc caactccggt gagccatgga gcccctctta tctgggccca 1140 acctcaaata accattccaa gaagggacat tgtcaccaag aaccagcatc tctggagaaa 1200 cagttgggct gttgcatcga gtaatgtcac tggactcggc ctaaggtttc ctggaacttc 1260 cagattcaga gaatctgatt tagggaaact gtggcagatg agtgggagac tggttgcaag 1320 gtgtgaccac aggaatcctg gaggaacaga gagtaaagct tctaggcatc tgaaacttgc 1380 ttcatctctg acgctcgcag gactgaagat gggcaaattg taggcgtttc tgctgagcag 1440 agttggagcc agagatctac ttgtgacttg ttggccttct tcccacatct gcctcagact 1500 ggggggggct cagctcctcg ggtgatatct agcctgcttg tgagctctag cagggataag 1560 gagagctgag attggaggga attgtgttgc tcctggagga agcccaggca tcattaaaca 1620 agccagtagg tcacctggct tccgtggacc aattcatctt tcagacaagc tttagagaaa 1680 tggactcagg gaagagactc acatgctttg gttagtatct gtgtttccgg tgggtgtaat 1740 aggggattag ccccagaagg gactgagcta aacagtgtta ttatgggaaa ggaaatggca 1800 ttgctgcttt caaccagcga ctaatgcaat ccattcctct cttgtttata gtaatctaag 1860 ggttgagcag ttaaaacggc ttcaggatag aaagctgttt cccacctgtt tcgttttacc 1920 attaaaaggg aaacgtgcct ctgccccacg ggtagagggg gtgcacgttc ctcctggttc 1980 cttcgcttgt gtttctgtac ttaccaaaaa tctaccactt caataaattt tgataggaga 2040 caaaaaaaaa a 2051 21 387 PRT Homo sapiens 21 Met Asn Arg His His Leu Gln Asp His Phe Leu Glu Ile Asp Lys Lys 1 5 10 15 Asn Cys Cys Val Phe Arg Asp Asp Phe Ile Ala Lys Val Leu Pro Pro 20 25 30 Val Leu Gly Leu Glu Phe Ile Phe Gly Leu Leu Gly Asn Gly Leu Ala 35 40 45 Leu Trp Ile Phe Cys Phe His Leu Lys Ser Trp Lys Ser Ser Arg Ile 50 55 60 Phe Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Val Ala Asp Phe Leu Leu Ile Ile Cys Leu 65 70 75 80 Pro Phe Val Met Asp Tyr Tyr Val Arg Arg Ser Asp Trp Asn Phe Gly 85 90 95 Asp Ile Pro Cys Arg Leu Val Leu Phe Met Phe Ala Met Asn Arg Gln 100 105 110 Gly Ser Ile Ile Phe Leu Thr Val Val Ala Val Asp Arg Tyr Phe Arg 115 120 125 Val Val His Pro His His Ala Leu Asn Lys Ile Ser Asn Trp Thr Ala 130 135 140 Ala Ile Ile Ser Cys Leu Leu Trp Gly Ile Thr Val Gly Leu Thr Val 145 150 155 160 His Leu Leu Lys Lys Lys Leu Leu Ile Gln Asn Gly Pro Ala Asn Val 165 170 175 Cys Ile Ser Phe Ser Ile Cys His Thr Phe Arg Trp His Glu Ala Met 180 185 190 Phe Leu Leu Glu Phe Leu Leu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ile Leu Phe Cys Ser 195 200 205 Ala Arg Ile Ile Trp Ser Leu Arg Gln Arg Gln Met Asp Arg His Ala 210 215 220 Lys Ile Lys Arg Ala Ile Thr Phe Ile Met Val Val Ala Ile Val Phe 225 230 235 240 Val Ile Cys Phe Leu Pro Ser Val Val Val Arg Ile Arg Ile Phe Trp 245 250 255 Leu Leu His Thr Ser Gly Thr Gln Asn Cys Glu Val Tyr Arg Ser Val 260 265 270 Asp Leu Ala Phe Phe Ile Thr Leu Ser Phe Thr Tyr Met Asn Ser Met 275 280 285 Leu Asp Pro Val Val Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Ser Pro Ser Phe Pro Asn Phe 290 295 300 Phe Ser Thr Leu Ile Asn Arg Cys Leu Gln Arg Lys Met Thr Gly Glu 305 310 315 320 Pro Asp Asn Asn Arg Ser Thr Ser Val Glu Leu Thr Gly Asp Pro Asn 325 330 335 Lys Thr Arg Gly Ala Pro Glu Ala Leu Met Ala Asn Ser Gly Glu Pro 340 345 350 Trp Ser Pro Ser Tyr Leu Gly Pro Thr Ser Asn Asn His Ser Lys Lys 355 360 365 Gly His Cys His Gln Glu Pro Ala Ser Leu Glu Lys Gln Leu Gly Cys 370 375 380 Cys Ile Glu 385 22 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 22 agcccatagc agatggcaac 20 23 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 23 tgtactttca actttgcatc ctgg 24 24 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 24 aagccaatga caaaccggat aatccctc 28 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for determining an expression level of an ILM receptor comprising: determining the level of ILM receptor expressed in a macrophage.
 2. The method according to claim 1 in which said macrophage is a mammalian cell.
 3. The method according to claim 2 in which said macrophage is a human cell.
 4. The method according to claim 3 in which the analysis is performed using a macrophage or a part thereof obtainable from the site of inflammation.
 5. The method according to claim 4 in which the analysis is performed using a macrophage or a part thereof obtainable from the site of inflammation in a mammal.
 6. The method according to claim 5 in which the analysis is performed using a macrophage or a part thereof obtainable from the site of inflammation in a human being.
 7. The method according to claim 1 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 8. The method according to claim 1 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 9. The method according to claim 1 in which said receptor is an FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 10. The method according to claim 9 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function.
 11. The method according to claim 1 for diagnosis or monitoring of a chronic inflammatory airway disease.
 12. The method according to claim 11 in which the chronic inflammatory airway disease is selected from the group consisting of chronic bronchitis and COPD.
 13. The method according to claim 11 in which the macrophage or a part thereof is obtained from the site of inflammation.
 14. The method according to claim 13 in which the macrophage or a part thereof is obtained from a site of inflammation in a mammal.
 15. The method according to claim 14 in which the mammal is a human being.
 16. A test system kit for determining whether a substance is an activator or an inhibitor of an ILM receptor function wherein the receptor is involved in a chronic inflammatory airway disease and wherein the receptor plays a role in mediating inflammation comprising at least: a. an ILM receptor, or b. an expression vector capable of expressing an ILM receptor in a cell, or c. a host cell transformed with an expression vector capable of expressing an ILM receptor.
 17. The test system kit according to claim 16 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 18. The test system kit according to claim 16 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 19. The test system kit according to claim 16 in which said receptor is a FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 20. The test system kit according to claim 19 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO 2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function.
 21. The test system kit according to claim 20 comprising a cell expressing an ILM receptor.
 22. The test system kit according to claim 21 in which the cell is a MonoMac6 or a THP-1 cell, wherein said cell is stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and with a substance selected from a group consisting of LPS and smoke.
 23. A substance determined to be an activator or inhibitor of an ILM receptor.
 24. The substance according to claim 23 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 25. The substance according to claim 23 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 26. The substance according to claim 23 in which said receptor is an FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 27. The substance according to claim 26 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function.
 28. A substance which is an activator or inhibitor of an ILM receptor for the treatment of a disease.
 29. The substance according to claim 28 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 30. The substance according to claim 28 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 31. The substance according to claim 28 in which said receptor is an FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 32. The substance according to claim 31 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function.
 33. The substance according to claim 28 in which said disease is a chronic inflammatory airway disease.
 34. The substance according to claim 33 in which said chronic inflammatory airway disease is selected from the group consisting of chronic bronchitis and COPD.
 35. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one substance determined to be an activator or inhibitor of an ILM receptor; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 36. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 35 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 37. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 35 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 38. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 35 in which said receptor is an FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 39. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 38 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function.
 40. A method for treating a chronic inflammatory airway disease comprising administering to a being in need of such treatment a suitable amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one substance determined to be an activator or inhibitor of an ILM receptor.
 41. The method according to claim 40 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 42. The method according to claim 40 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 43. The method according to claim 40 in which said receptor is an FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 44. The method according to claim 43 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function.
 45. The method according to claim 40 wherein the being is a mammal.
 46. The method according to claim 45 wherein the being is a human being.
 47. The method according to claim 40 for treating a chronic inflammatory airway disease selected from the group consisting of chronic bronchitis and COPD.
 48. A method for selectively modulating an ILM receptor in a macrophage comprising administering a substance determined to be an activator or inhibitor of an ILM receptor.
 49. The method according to claim 48 in which the macrophage is involved in a chronic inflammatory airway disease.
 50. The method according to claim 49 in which the chronic inflammatory airway disease is selected from the group consisting of chronic bronchitis and COPD
 51. The method according to claim 48 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor type receptor, HM74 receptor type receptor, AICL receptor type receptor, ILT1 receptor type receptor, SHPS receptor type receptor, KDEL receptor 1 type receptor, and CSF-1 receptor type receptor.
 52. The method according to claim 48 in which said receptor is a receptor selected from the group consisting of FPRL-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:2), HM74 receptor (SEQ ID NO:21), AICL receptor (SEQ ID NO:6), ILT1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:12), SHPS-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:4), KDEL receptor 1 (SEQ ID NO:8), and CSF-1 receptor (SEQ ID NO:10).
 53. The method according to claim 48 in which said receptor is an FPRL-1 receptor type receptor.
 54. The method according to claim 53 in which the FPRL-1 receptor type receptor is SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant, mutant, or fragment thereof having the same function. 